Gut Microbiome in Chronic Coronary Syndrome Patients

Abstract

Despite knowledge of classical coronary artery disease (CAD) risk factors, the morbidity and mortality associated with this disease remain high. Therefore, new factors that may affect the development of CAD, such as the gut microbiome, are extensively investigated. This study aimed to evaluate gut microbiome composition in CAD patients in relation to the control group. We examined 169 CAD patients and 166 people in the control group, without CAD, matched in terms of age and sex to the study group. Both populations underwent a detailed health assessment. The microbiome analysis was based on the V3–V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene (NGS method). Among 4074 identified taxonomic units in the whole population, 1070 differed between study groups. The most common bacterial types were Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria. Furthermore, a higher Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio in the CAD group compared with the control was demonstrated. Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, independent of age, sex, CAD status, LDL cholesterol concentration, and statins treatment, was related to altered phosphatidylcholine concentrations obtained in targeted metabolomics. Altered alpha-biodiversity (Kruskal–Wallis test, p = 0.001) and beta-biodiversity (Bray–Curtis metric, p < 0.001) in the CAD group were observed. Moreover, a predicted functional analysis revealed some taxonomic units, metabolic pathways, and proteins that might be characteristic of the CAD patients’ microbiome, such as increased expressions of 6-phospho-β-glucosidase and protein-N(pi)-phosphohistidine-sugar phosphotransferase and decreased expressions of DNA topoisomerase, oxaloacetate decarboxylase, and 6-beta-glucosidase. In summary, CAD is associated with altered gut microbiome composition and function.

Influence of Gut Microbiota and Trimethylamine <i>N</i>-Oxide in Patients with Coronary Heart Disease

“…14) The results highlighted the participation of TMAO in CHD development and advised that TMAO tests were available for CHD patients to improve management and prognosis. In the current study, the results showed no significant difference in microbial abundance among the two groups by alpha and beta biodiversity analysis, which was in line with the founding of Wan, et al 15) However, a randomized trial, 16) which enrolled 169 CHD patients and 166 people without CHD, revealed that the CHD group was characterized by a lower number of OTUs compared with the control. This article was based on the Poland population, which may be the reason for different findings.…”

“…18) Previous studies have shown a decrease in the Bacteroidetes phylum and an increase in the Firmicutes phylum in coronary artery disease. 16,19) This study found a reduction in the abundance of Bacteroidetes in the CHD group, similar to the study by Jie,20) in which stool samples were collected from 218 patients with coronary artery disease and 187 healthy controls. Although Firmicutes abundance did not differ between study groups, the results of the current study confirmed a higher relative abundance of Firmicutes in the control group contrary to previously mentioned findings provided by Sawicka-Smiarowska.…”

“…Although Firmicutes abundance did not differ between study groups, the results of the current study confirmed a higher relative abundance of Firmicutes in the control group contrary to previously mentioned findings provided by Sawicka-Smiarowska. 16) Additionally, a significant decrease in Epsilonbacteraeota was also observed in CHD. Based on the results of the current study, gut microbiota was also suggested as a CHD diagnostic marker.…”

Why Do These Microbes Like Me and How Could There Be a Link with Cardiovascular Risk Factors?

“…Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio [19,[83][84][85][86][87][114][115][116][121][122][123]. A higher value was found to be related to abnormal body weight, lack of physical activity, and female gender (Figure 1) [19,[52][53][54]90,112,113].…”

“…In the literature, different gut microbiota were related to risk factors, particularly for cardiovascular diseases; however, one of the most common results is a change in the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio [19,[83][84][85][86][87][114][115][116][121][122][123]. A higher value was found to be related to abnormal body weight, lack of physical activity, and female gender (Figure 1) [19,[52][53][54]90,112,113].…”