The gut microbes play a significant role.
Changes in the composition of gut microbiota have been associated with various health conditions, including type 2 diabetes, obesity, and inflammatory bowel disease.
Recently, scientists from the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, in collaboration with Massachusetts General Hospital, have uncovered a potential link between gut microbes and cardiovascular disease.
Their study, published in Cell, identifies specific bacterial species within the gut that are capable of metabolizing cholesterol, which could potentially lower cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease.
The researchers conducted their investigation using metabolites and microbial genomes obtained from over 1,400 participants enrolled in the Framingham Heart Study, a long-term study focusing on cardiovascular disease risk factors.
Their analysis revealed that a particular type of bacteria called Oscillibacter possesses the ability to absorb and process cholesterol from its surroundings. Interestingly, individuals with higher levels of this microbe in their intestines tended to have lower cholesterol levels.
Further examination unveiled the mechanism by which these bacteria degrade cholesterol, offering insights into potential interventions aimed at modulating gut microbiota to manage cholesterol levels in humans.
These findings underscore the importance of studying the gut microbiome’s role in health and disease. While previous research has identified associations between gut microbiota composition and cardiovascular disease risk factors, translating these findings into effective treatments has proven challenging due to gaps in understanding metabolic processes in the gut.
To address this, researchers employed advanced techniques such as shotgun metagenomic sequencing and metabolomics to comprehensively analyze microbial DNA and metabolites within samples.
Their investigation revealed thousands of links between gut microbes and metabolic characteristics, with Oscillibacter species emerging as key players in cholesterol metabolism. By cultivating these bacteria in laboratory settings and employing mass spectrometry, researchers elucidated the biochemical pathways involved in cholesterol degradation by gut microbes.
Furthermore, the study identified another gut bacterium, Eubacterium coprostanoligenes, which collaborates with Oscillibacter to further reduce cholesterol levels. This highlights the intricate interactions between different microbial species within the gut and their collective impact on human health.
Moving forward, researchers aim to deepen their understanding of gut microbiota dynamics and develop targeted interventions that leverage this knowledge to promote health and prevent disease. By unraveling the complexities of the gut microbiome, scientists hope to devise personalized treatments that target harmful microbes and optimize gut health.
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