Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2017 Nov;32(6):761-766.
doi: 10.1097/HCO.0000000000000445.

Gut microbiome and its role in cardiovascular diseases

Shadi Ahmadmehrabi  1 , W H Wilson Tang
Affiliations
Review

Gut microbiome and its role in cardiovascular diseases

Shadi Ahmadmehrabi et al. Curr Opin Cardiol. 2017 Nov.

Abstract

Purpose of review: In recent years, an interest in intestinal microbiota-host interactions has increased due to many findings about the impact of gut bacteria on human health and disease. Dysbiosis, a change in the composition of the gut microbiota, has been associated with much pathology, including cardiovascular diseases (CVD). This article will review normal functions of the gut microbiome, its link to CVD, and potential therapeutic interventions.

Recent findings: The recently discovered contribution of gut microbiota-derived molecules in the development of heart disease and its risk factors has significantly increased attention towards the connection between our gut and heart. The gut microbiome is virtually an endocrine organ, arguably the largest, capable of contributing to and reacting to circulating signaling molecules within the host. Gut microbiota-host interactions occur through many pathways, including trimethylamine-N-oxide and short-chain fatty acids. These molecules and others have been linked to much pathology including chronic kidney disease, atherosclerosis, and hypertension.

Summary: Although our understanding of gut microbiota-host interactions has increased recently; many questions remain about the mechanistic links between the gut microbiome and CVD. With further research, we may one day be able to add gut microbiota profiles as an assessable risk factor for CVD and target therapies towards the gut microbiota.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Schematic of gut microbiota effects on risk factors for CVD and adverse cardiovascular events.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Writing Group Members et al. Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics-2016 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2016 Jan;133(4):e38–360. - PubMed
    1. Koeth RA, et al. Intestinal microbiota metabolism of l-carnitine, a nutrient in red meat, promotes atherosclerosis. Nat Med. 2013 May;19(5):576–585. This paper first identified TMAO as the link between a high red meat diet and atherosclerosis, a formative event in the continued discovery of the link between the gut and the heart. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Wang Z, et al. Gut flora metabolism of phosphatidylcholine promotes cardiovascular disease. Nature. 2011 Apr;472(7341):57–63. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Turnbaugh PJ, Ley RE, Mahowald MA, Magrini V, Mardis ER, Gordon JI. An obesity-associated gut microbiome with increased capacity for energy harvest. Nature. 2006 Dec;444(7122):1027–131. - PubMed
    1. Qin J, et al. A metagenome-wide association study of gut microbiota in type 2 diabetes. Nature. 2012 Oct;490(7418):55–60. - PubMed

Publication types