Novel insights in the relationship of gut microbiota and coronary artery diseases

• Published in: Critical reviews in food science and nutrition 2022, Vol.62 (14), p.3738-3750
• Main Authors: Ramírez-Macías, Inmaculada, Orenes-Piñero, Esteban, Camelo-Castillo, Anny, Rivera-Caravaca, José Miguel, López-García, Cecilia, Marín, Francisco
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Arteries; Arteriosclerosis; Atherosclerosis; Bacteria; Bacteria - metabolism; Cardiovascular disease; Cardiovascular diseases; Coronary artery; Coronary artery disease; Coronary Artery Disease - complications; Coronary vessels; Digestive system; Dysbacteriosis; Dysbiosis; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Gastrointestinal tract; Health risks; Heart diseases; Humans; Inflammatory diseases; intestinal microbiota; Intestinal microflora; Intestine; Lipids; Metabolites; Microbiota; Microorganisms; Pathogenesis; Prebiotics; Probiotics; statins; Transplantation; Trimethylamine; Trimethylamine-N-oxide; Vein & artery diseases
• ISSN: 1040-8398; 1549-7852
• DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2020.1868397

Atherosclerosis is a chronic, progressive, inflammatory disease in the vasculature and is common in both coronary and peripheral arteries. Human beings harbor a complex and dynamic population of microorganisms defined as the microbiota. Importantly, alterations in the bacterial composition (dysbiosis) and the metabolic compounds produced by these bacteria have been associated with the pathogenesis of many inflammatory diseases and infections. There is also a close relationship between intestinal microbiota and cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this review was to analyze how changes in the gut microbiota and their metabolites might affect coronary artery diseases. The most representative groups of bacteria that make up the intestinal microbiota are altered in coronary artery disease patients, resulting in a decrease in Bacteroidetes and an increase in Firmicutes. In relation to metabolites, trimethylamine-N-oxide plays an important role in atherosclerosis and may act as a cardiovascular risk predictor. In addition, the use of probiotics, prebiotics, diet modulation, and fecal transplantation, which may represent alternative treatments for these diseases, is thoroughly discussed. Finally, the role of lipid-lowering treatments is also analyzed as they may affect and alter the gut microbiota and, conversely, gut microbiota diversity could be associated with resistance or sensitivity to these treatments.