Microbiology & Immunology Publications
Title
Metabolic products of the intestinal microbiome and extremes of atherosclerosis
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
6-1-2018
Journal
Atherosclerosis
Volume
273
First Page
91
Last Page
97
URL with Digital Object Identifier
10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2018.04.015
Abstract
Background and aims: There is increasing awareness that the intestinal microbiome plays an important role in human health. We investigated its role in the burden of carotid atherosclerosis, measured by ultrasound as total plaque area. Methods: Multiple regression with traditional risk factors was used to identify three phenotypes among 316/3056 patients attending vascular prevention clinics. Residual score (RES; i.e. the distance off the regression line, similar to standard deviation) was used to identify the 5% of patients with much less plaque than predicted by their risk factors (Protected, RES 2). Metabolic products of the intestinal microbiome that accumulate in renal failure – gut-derived uremic toxins (GDUT) – were assayed in plasma by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Results: Plasma levels of trimethylamine n-oxide (TMAO), p-cresyl sulfate, p-cresyl glucuronide, and phenylacetylglutamine were significantly lower among patients with the Protected phenotype, and higher in those with the Unexplained phenotype, despite no significant differences in renal function or in dietary intake of nutrient precursors of GDUT. In linear multiple regression with a broad panel of risk factors, TMAO (p = 0.011) and p-cresyl sulfate (p = 0.011) were significant independent predictors of carotid plaque burden. Conclusions: The intestinal microbiome appears to play an important role in atherosclerosis. These findings raise the possibility of novel approaches to treatment of atherosclerosis such as fecal transplantation and probiotics.