Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are major causes of death worldwide. Recently, new roles for intestinal microbiota in pathology and treatment of CVD have been proposed. Butyrate, a bacterial metabolite, is synthesized in the gut and performs most of its functions in there. However, researchers have discovered that butyrate could enter to portal vein and interact with various organs. Butyrate exhibits a broad range of pharmacological activities, including microbiome modulator, anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity, metabolic pathways regulator, anti-angiogenesis, and antioxidant. In this article we review evidence supporting a potentially therapeutic role for butyrate in CVD and the mechanisms and pathways involved in the cardio-protective effects of butyrate from the gut and circulation to the nervous system. In summary, although butyrate exhibits a wide variety of biological activities in different pathways including energy homeostasis, glucose and lipid metabolism, inflammation, oxidative stress, neural signaling, and epigenetic modulation in experimental settings, it remains unclear whether these findings are clinically relevant and whether the molecular pathways are activated by butyrate in humans.

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Background Obesity can increase the risk of diabetes mellitus and complications associated with it. Objectives The aim of this study was to estimate the associations between new and old anthropometric indices and the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its metabolic complications. Methods In this cross-sectional analytical study, 110 T2DM subjects and 110 healthy controls were selected by convenience sampling. Metabolic factors were evaluated including the atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), glycemic status, lipid profile, blood pressure, kidney indices, new anthropometric indices (abdominal volume index [AVI], body shape index [ABSI], lipid accumulation product [LAP], body adiposity index [BAI], and conicity index [CI]), and old anthropometric indices (weight, body mass index [BMI], and waist and hip circumference [WC and HC]). Results Significant positive correlations were observed between AVI, LAP, and BAI and fasting blood glucose and HbA1c in the T2DM group (p < 0.001 for all associations). The odds ratio (OR) for T2DM elevated significantly with increasing BMI (OR: 1.30, 95% CI: 1.20-1.42), LAP (OR: 1.20, 95% CI: 1.13-1.27), and BAI (OR: 1.32, 95% CI: 1.21-1.43). The indices AVI (OR: 1.90, 95% CI: 1.57-2.29), LAP (OR: 1.19, 95% CI: 1.13-1.27), BAI (OR: 1.19, 95% CI: 1.12-1.26), WC (OR: 1.29, 95% CI: 1.18, 1.42), and HC (OR: 1.07, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.14) significantly increased the risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS). Conclusions Associations were identified between obesity indices and diabetes. These indices could be used in clinical practice for evaluation and control of T2DM.

Background Diabetes mellitus is a common chronic disease. Dyslipidemia and hypertension are two complications that may develop in diabetic patients if hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, and weight gain are not controlled. This study investigated the effects of melatonin supplementation on some cardiovascular disease risk factors and anthropometric indices in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Materials and methods In this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, 50 T2DM patients were randomly allocated to intervention and control groups which received two tablets of either melatonin or placebo (250 mg) once a day for 8 weeks. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), pulse pressure (PP), the atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), weight, body mass index (BMI), waist and hip circumference (WC, HC), a body shape index (ABSI), abdominal volume index (AVI), body adiposity index (BAI), lipid accumulation product (LAP), conicity index, and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) were evaluated in all the patients pre- and post-intervention. Results Melatonin supplementation for 8 weeks significantly decreased the mean levels of SBP, MAP, PP, weight, BMI, WC, HC, BAI, AVI, conicity index, and WHtR post-intervention (p <  0.05). Also, the median changes of SBP, MAP, PP, weight, BMI, WC, HC BAI, AVI, and conicity index were significantly lower in the intervention group compared with the control group (p <  0.05). A significant increase (p <  0.001) was observed in the mean levels of ABSI in the intervention group. The median changes of ABSI were significantly greater in the intervention group compared with the control group (p <  0.001). Conclusions Consumption of melatonin supplement may be effective in controlling arterial pressure including SBP, MAP, and PP and anthropometric indices (as predictors of obesity) in T2DM patients. Trial registration Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials IRCT20190303042905N1. Registered on 17 May 2019.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common chronic diseases worldwide. As a multifaceted disease, NAFLD’s pathogenesis is not entirely understood, but recent evidence reveals that gut microbiota plays a significant role in its progression. Butyrate, a gut microbiota metabolite, has been reported to have hepato-protective effects in NAFLD animal models. The purpose of this systematic review is to determine how butyrate affects the risk factors for NAFLD. Searches were conducted using relevant keywords in electronic databases up to March 2022. According to the evidence presented in this study, butyrate contributes to a wide variety of biological processes in the gut–liver axis. Its beneficial properties include improving intestinal homeostasis and liver health as well as anti-inflammatory, metabolism regulatory and anti-oxidative effects. These effects may be attributed to butyrate’s ability to regulate gene expression as an epigenetic modulator and trigger cellular responses as a signalling molecule. However, the exact underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Human trials have not been performed on the effect of butyrate on NAFLD, so there are concerns about whether the results of animal studies can be translated to humans. This review summarises the current knowledge about the properties of butyrate, particularly its potential effects and mechanisms on liver health and NAFLD management.

ObjectivesThis study aimed to compare serum free fatty acids (FFAs) and lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) between metabolically healthy abdominally obese (MHAO) and metabolically unhealthy abdominally obese (MUAO) individuals. We also examined the association between serum FFAs and LBP in the participants.MethodsIn this age-matched and gender-matched case–control study, 164 abdominally obese subjects were recruited from June to November 2015 in the northwest of Iran. Demographic data, dietary intake, body composition, anthropometric indices and physical activity (PA) were assessed. Basal blood samples were collected to determine serum metabolic parameters, FFAs and LBP. Abdominal obesity was defined as having waist circumference ≥95 cm. Those with three or more metabolic alterations were defined as MUAO and those having two or less were classified as MHAO. Data were analysed using SPSS V.17.0.ResultsThere were no significant differences in dietary intake, anthropometric indices, body composition and PA between the two groups. The odds of MUAO significantly increased by increments in serum fasting blood sugar (OR 3.79, 95% CI 2.25 to 6.40), triglycerides (OR 1.10, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.15), systolic blood pressure (OR 1.02, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.04) and diastolic blood pressure (OR 1.03, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.06) and decreased by increase in serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (OR 0.32, 95% CI 0.20 to 0.52). The levels of LBP and FFAs showed no significant differences between the two groups. However, significant correlations were found between LBP and FFAs in pooled population (r=0.712; p<0.001) as well as in cases (r=0.717; p<0.001) and controls (r=0.704; p<0.001). Neither FFAs nor LBP were significantly correlated with dietary intake or metabolic parameters (p>0.05).ConclusionThe results indicated that serum LBP and FFAs are highly correlated both in MHAO and MUAO states. In addition, the levels of LBP and FFAs seem to be more related to abdominal obesity than to the presence or absence of metabolic health.

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