Effects of Berries, Phytochemicals, and Probiotics on Atherosclerosis through Gut Microbiota Modification: A Meta-Analysis of Animal Studies

Abstract

Atherosclerosis is a major cause of death and disability. The beneficial effects of phytochemicals and probiotics on atherosclerosis have gained significant interest since these functional foods can improve inflammation, oxidative stress, and microbiome dysbiosis. The direct effect of the microbiome in atherosclerosis, however, needs further elucidation. The objective of this work was to investigate the effects of polyphenols, alkaloids, and probiotics on atherosclerosis using a meta-analysis of studies with mouse models of atherosclerosis. Identification of eligible studies was conducted through searches on PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Science Direct until November 2022. The results showed that phytochemicals reduced atherosclerosis, which was significant in male mice, but not in females. Probiotics, on the other hand, showed significant reductions in plaque in both sexes. Berries and phytochemicals modulated gut microbial composition by reducing the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes (F/B) ratio and by upregulating health-promoting bacteria, including Akkermansia muciniphila. This analysis suggests that phytochemicals and probiotics can reduce atherosclerosis in animal models, with a potentially greater effect on male animals. Thus, consumption of functional foods rich in phytochemicals as well as probiotics are viable interventions to improve gut health and reduce plaque burden in patients suffering from cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Could Adverse Effects of Antibiotics Due to Their Use/Misuse Be Linked to Some Mechanisms Related to Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease?

“…A metagenome-wide association study on stools from 218 individuals with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease showed that their gut microbiomes showed increased abundances of Enterobacteriaceae and Streptococcus spp., differently from 187 healthy controls, concluding that the gut microbiota could play a role in cardiovascular diseases [79]. What is more, consumption of functional foods rich in phytochemicals as well as probiotics are feasible interventions to ameliorate gut health and reduce plaque burden in patients suffering from cardiovascular disease [80]. The previous finding could have an important clinical aspect.…”

Integration of 16S rRNA sequencing and metabolomics to investigate the modulatory effect of ginsenoside Rb1 on atherosclerosis

“…Low alpha diversity is often used as a characteristic to evaluate dyslipidemia [ 59 ]. The increase of F/B ratio accelerated the accumulation of lipids and alters the production of SCFAs, which is a predictor of metabolic diseases [ 60 , 61 ]. Rb1 intervention upregulated the abundance of Lactobacillus, Prevotella and Bacteroides in AS rats.…”

The Interplay Between Dietary Choline and Cardiometabolic Disorders: A Review of Current Evidence

“…Furthermore, supplementation of rodents with Akkermansia muciniphila has resulted in an amelioration of the increased TMAO levels and blood pressure as well. It is noteworthy that Depommier et al in their landmark study among humans have demonstrated that supplementation with this NGP has been a safe and well-tolerated method to improve parameters of the metabolic syndrome among overweight/obese patients [ 76 ].…”