Human microbiota have been linked with coronary artery disease. One potential mechanism involves translocation of microbes from oral and lower GI sites into the blood. From there, certain bacteria find their way into atheromas. It has been well established that the pro-inflammatory effect of lipopolysaccharide promotes atherosclerosis. Another mechanism involves pro-inflammatory and pro-atherogenic metabolites produced by gut microbiota interacting with certain nutrients.

Read a brief review by Serino et al. here.

Question: Do certain diets cause heart disease directly, or is the gut microbiota the culprit?

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Joe Alcock

Emergency Physician, Educator, Researcher, interested in the microbiome, evolution, and medicine