The German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK) suggests that gut health could play a role in heart failure. According to this research, important groups of bacteria are found less frequently in those with heart disease, and the gut flora is not as diverse as in healthy individuals.
It has been long understood that heart failure and gut health are linked; in these instances, the gut has a worse blood supply, and the intestinal wall becomes more susceptible to bacterial permeation. Also, it is known that gut composition is altered in other chronic diseases, like type 2 diabetes.
Interested in how this may relate to heart disease, DZHK researchers analyzed gut bacteria in stool samples of healthy individuals and patients with heart failure. Ultimately, results showed that a significantly lower proportion of different bacteria are found in the guts of heart failure patients than in healthy controls. However, it is still not understood whether the gut flora is altered as a result of heart failure, or whether it is a trigger.
These differences were mostly caused by the loss of bacteria from the Blautia, Collinsella, Erysipelotrichaceae, and Ruminococcaceae genera.
Prior research suggests that Blautia may reduce inflammation, which accompanies heart failure. However, scientists generally believe that the gut flora changes as a consequence of heart failure. Further investigation is needed on the subject.
Despite this, these findings offer hope to heart disease patients—as well as potential for the probiotic market. As this area of research grows, natural products such as these could take a front-seat role.
