- Scientists have discovered that gut microbes play a significant role in influencing cardiovascular disease.
- This builds upon previous research linking the gut microbiota to various health issues like diabetes and obesity.
- Using data from the Framingham Heart Study, researchers identified specific bacteria in the gut that can break down cholesterol, suggesting a potential path to reducing heart disease risk.
- This research not only sheds light on the mechanisms by which gut bacteria affect cholesterol levels but also opens the door for treatments aimed at modifying the gut microbiota to improve heart health.
Alterations in the gut microbiota have been linked to
Researchers from the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard in collaboration with Massachusetts General Hospital have recently discovered that gut microbes could also influence cardiovascular disease.
The new study, published in
The researchers examined metabolites and microbial genomes from over 1,400 participants in the long-running
They found that a type of bacteria called Oscillibacter absorbs and processes cholesterol from its environment, noting that individuals with higher quantities of this microbe in their intestines exhibited reduced cholesterol levels.
The team also uncovered the process these bacteria likely employ to degrade cholesterol.
The findings imply that future interventions targeting the microbiota in specific manners may aid in lowering cholesterol levels in humans.
These discoveries provide a foundation for more focused research on the impact of microbiome alterations on health and disease.
Over the last decade, researchers have found associations between the makeup of the…
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