Gut microbes could unlock the secret to healthy aging

Date:
August 27, 2020
Source:
European Society of Cardiology
Summary:
Bacteria and other microorganisms in the digestive tract are linked
with dozens of health conditions including high blood pressure, high
blood lipids, and body mass index (BMI) according to new research.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Bacteria and other microorganisms in the digestive tract are linked with
dozens of health conditions including high blood pressure, high blood
lipids, and body mass index (BMI) according to research presented today
at ESC Congress 2020.1

==========================================================================
"Our study indicates that microbiota might have an important role in maintaining health and could help us develop novel treatments," said
study author Dr. Hilde Groot of University Medical Centre Groningen,
the Netherlands.

The human gut microbiome is the totality of microorganisms (generally
bacteria and single-celled organisms called archaea) and their collective genetic material present in the digestive tract. Small-scale studies
have suggested a link between the gut microbiome and individual diseases.

This study, for the first time, investigated multiple diseases and other
traits in one cohort -- revealing the staggering extent to which the
microbiome influences sickness and health. The analysis used genetic
data as a proxy for microbiome composition.

Dr. Groot explained: "Previous research has shown that the human
gut microbiome composition could be partially explained by genetic
variants. So, instead of directly measuring the make-up of the
microbiome, we used genetic alterations to estimate its composition."
The study included 422,417 unrelated individuals in the UK Biobank who
had undergone genotyping to identify their genetic make-up. Information
was also collected on a wide range of diseases and other characteristics including BMI and blood pressure. The average age of participants was
57 years and 54% were women.

The researchers found that higher levels of eleven bacteria (estimated
from genetic data) were associated with a total of 28 health and disease outcomes.

These included chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), atopy (a
genetic tendency to develop allergic diseases like asthma and eczema), frequency of alcohol intake, high blood pressure, high blood lipids,
and BMI.

To take one example, higher levels of the genus Ruminococcus were linked
with increased risk of high blood pressure.

Regarding alcohol consumption, Dr. Groot said: "What we eat and drink
is connected to microbiome content, so we studied the links with meat, caffeine, and alcohol. We observed a relationship between raised levels
of Methanobacterium and drinking alcohol more often. It is important
to stress that this is an association, not a causal relation, and more
research is needed." A real strength of the study was conducting a
broad analysis in the same group of people. Dr. Groot said: "Considering
that the results were observed in one cohort, this cautiously supports
the notion that microbiota and the substances they produce (called
metabolites) provide links between numerous diseases and conditions. The findings may help identify common pathways. Nevertheless, more research
(for example in other cohorts) is needed to validate our findings."
She concluded: "Follow-up studies are required to study causality before
giving concrete advice to the public and health professionals. This
study provides clues where to go."

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by European_Society_of_Cardiology. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


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Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/08/200827101839.htm

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