Gut Microbiome, Functional Food, Atherosclerosis, and Vascular Calcifications—Is There a Missing Link?

• Published in: Microorganisms (Basel) 2021-09, Vol.9 (9), p.1913
• Main Authors: Cretoiu, Dragos, Ionescu, Ruxandra Florentina, Enache, Robert Mihai, Cretoiu, Sanda Maria, Voinea, Silviu Cristian
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Arteriosclerosis; Atherosclerosis; Bacteria; Biomedical materials; Calcification; Calcification (ectopic); Cardiovascular disease; Cardiovascular diseases; Carnitine; Choline; Community involvement; Coronary artery disease; Coronary vessels; Diabetes; Diet; Dietary intake; Digestive system; Evolution; Food intake; Fruits; functional food; Functional foods & nutraceuticals; Gastrointestinal tract; Genomes; gut microbiota; Heart attacks; Heart diseases; Hemorrhage; Hypertension; Inflammation; Intestinal microflora; Intestine; Lecithin; Lipids; Metabolic disorders; Metabolism; Metabolites; microbiome; Microbiomes; Microbiota; Microorganisms; Osteogenesis; Oxidative stress; Pathogens; Phosphatidylcholine; Probiotics; Proteins; Review; Smooth muscle; Stroke; Thrombosis; Trimethylamine; Trimethylamine-N-oxide; vascular calcification
• ISSN: 2076-2607; 2076-2607
• DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9091913

The gut microbiome is represented by the genome of all microorganisms (symbiotic, potential pathogens, or pathogens) residing in the intestine. These ecological communities are involved in almost all metabolic diseases and cardiovascular diseases are not excluded. Atherosclerosis, with a continuously increasing incidence in recent years, is the leading cause of coronary heart disease and stroke by plaque rupture and intraplaque hemorrhage. Vascular calcification, a process very much alike with osteogenesis, is considered to be a marker of advanced atherosclerosis. New evidence, suggesting the role of dietary intake influence on the diversity of the gut microbiome in the development of vascular calcifications, is highly debated. Gut microbiota can metabolize choline, phosphatidylcholine, and L-carnitine and produce vasculotoxic metabolites, such as trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), a proatherogenic metabolite. This review article aims to discuss the latest research about how probiotics and the correction of diet is impacting the gut microbiota and its metabolites in the atherosclerotic process and vascular calcification. Further studies could create the premises for interventions in the microbiome as future primary tools in the prevention of atherosclerotic plaque and vascular calcifications.