Gut Butyrate Reduction in Blood Pressure Is Associated with Other Vegetables, Whole Fruit, Total Grains, and Sodium Intake

Abstract

Background: African Americans (AA) are disproportionally affected by hypertension (HTN). Gut microbiome metabolites (e.g., butyrate) may mediate the relationship between the microbiome and blood pressure (BP). Previous research reports a consistent indirect relationship between gut butyrate, a product of gut microbial nutrient fermentation, and BP. Thus, this study assessed the relationship between individual diet intake on BP changes after a butyrate treatment.

Methods: AA aged 30-50 with HTN underwent treatment with a blinded placebo (5 mmol) and butyrate enema (80 mmol) with a one-week washout period. Ambulatory BP monitors collected measures up to 24 h post-enema. The Nutrition Data System for Research was used to assess diet and Healthy Eating Index (HEI-2015) scores from diet records. Paired t-tests and Kendall's correlation tests determined group differences and relationships between variables (p < 0.05).

Results: Positive correlations were found between other vegetables and 24 h diastolic BP (r = 0.64), daytime diastolic BP (r = 0.68), and MAP (r = 0.72). Positive correlations were also found between 24 h systolic BP and HEI-2015 greens and beans sub-scores (r = 0.64) and 24 h DBP and total vegetables (r = 0.64). Negative correlations were found between nighttime arterial stiffness and total grain intake (r = -0.71).

Conclusion: These data suggest diet impacts BP measures in response to acutely increasing gut butyrate. These results provide preliminary evidence linking food groups, not individual nutrients, with BP outcomes and gut butyrate availability.

Keywords: African Americans; diet quality; gut butyrate; hypertension; nutrients.