Gut Microbiome & Cardiovascular Disease

Question 1

what are cardiovascular diseases

Answer 1

• Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)
• Stroke/TIA
• Atherosclerosis
• Heart Failure

Question 2

How is the gut microbiome related to CVD?

Answer 2

• Gut Dysbiosis
• Low microbial alpha diversity in the gut (↑ bad bacteria, ↓ good bacteria)

Question 3

explain the effect of dysbiosis in CD

Answer 3

• Low diversity leads to the mucus layer being degraded and bacteria able to access intestinal epithelium
• this allows metabolites from Bad bacteria enter vasculature

Question 4

examples of metabolites

Answer 4

• Trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO)
• Short Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs)
• Secondary Bile acids
• Toxins

Question 5

metabolites - SCFAs

Answer 5

play role in maintaining intestinal barrier

Question 6

metabolites - secondary bile acids

Answer 6

• down regulate bile acid synthesis
• leads to increased cholesterol levels

Question 7

what is high density lipoproteins (HDL)

Answer 7

• Good Cholesterol which promotes Reverse Cholesterol Transport (RCT)
• RCT helps eliminate low density lipoproteins (LDL)

Question 8

what is high density lipoproteins (LDL)

Answer 8

• bad cholesterol
• they are Pro-inflammatory and can activate immune cells

Question 9

cholesterol and the microbiome relationship - Trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO)

Answer 9

• when TMAO increases, RTC process is lowered and LDL concentrations increase
• this then increases the risk of Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)

Question 10

cholesterol and the microbiome relationship - LDL

Answer 10

• increased levels of immune cells means more fatty streaks
• results in increased risk of CAD specifically atherosclerosis

Question 11

next steps

Answer 11

Fecal transplants for restoring diversity