Improved gut microbiota with cholesterol-lowering medication

Date:
June 15, 2020
Source:
University of Gothenburg
Summary:
There is a clear link between improved gut microbiota and one of
our most common cholesterol-lowering drug groups: statins.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== There is a clear link between improved gut microbiota and one of our most common cholesterol-lowering drug groups: statins. This is evident from
a European study involving researchers from the University of Gothenburg.


========================================================================== Scientists have previously found an association between the gut microbiota
and various metabolism-related and cardiovascular diseases. Now the
current study, published in the journal Nature, shows improvement in
gut microbiota in the participant group who were taking statins.

The direct mechanisms have not been identified. Nonetheless, in this
first major publication from MetaCardis (Metagenomics in Cardiometabolic Diseases), a collaborative EU-based project involving 14 research groups
from six countries, the results are unequivocal.

One of the authors is Fredrik Ba"ckhed, Professor of Molecular Medicine
at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, who focuses on the
role of gut microbiota in metabolism.

"Although the study does not provide a causal link," he says, "it's
exciting to see how a well-established and clinically used drug can change
the gut microbiota. Time will tell whether statins affect bacteria in the
gut directly or whether these drugs affect both gut and immune cells that,
in turn, help modify the microbiota." The purpose of MetaCardis is to
clarify whether and how gut microbiota may be linked to cardiovascular
disease. In the project, more than 2,000 Europeans with varying degrees of metabolic and cardiovascular disease have been meticulously investigated.

The gut microbiota is divided into various main groups, known as
enterotypes, that vary among individuals. One of these, labeled Bact2, has fewer bacteria in terms of number and composition alike. Microbes lacking
in Bact2 include anti- inflammatory bacteria like Faecalibacterium,
one effect of which is to strengthen the immune system.

Bact2 is more common in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), multiple sclerosis and depression. In the current study, the scientists
found this enterotype also to be significantly more prevalent in patients
with obesity (18%) than people without it (4%) -- an observation verified
in an independent Belgian study.

The positive and hitherto unknown effect of statins identified by the researchers was that the proportion of individuals with Bact2 decreased in
the group given statin therapy, resulting in a more normal gut microbiota.

Together, the various study findings open up for new forms of treatment
in the future, in which drugs can be used to alter the gut microbiota.

"Perhaps drugs like statins can be used to change the ecology in the
gut. But that calls for further studies," Ba"ckhed notes.


========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Gothenburg. Original
written by Margareta Gustafsson Kubista. Note: Content may be edited
for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Sara Vieira-Silva, Gwen Falony, Eugeni Belda, Trine Nielsen,
Judith Aron-
Wisnewsky, Rima Chakaroun, Sofia K. Forslund, Karen Assmann,
Mireia Valles-Colomer, Thi Thuy Duyen Nguyen, Sebastian Proost,
Edi Prifti, Valentina Tremaroli, Nicolas Pons, Emmanuelle Le
Chatelier, Fabrizio Andreelli, Jean-Phillippe Bastard, Luis Pedro
Coelho, Nathalie Galleron, Tue H. Hansen, Jean-Se'bastien Hulot,
Christian Lewinter, Helle K.

Pedersen, Benoit Quinquis, Christine Rouault, Hugo Roume, Joe-Elie
Salem, Nadja B. So/ndertoft, Sothea Touch, Marc-Emmanuel Dumas,
Stanislav Dusko Ehrlich, Pilar Galan, Jens P. Go/tze, Torben Hansen,
Jens J. Holst, Lars Ko/ber, Ivica Letunic, Jens Nielsen, Jean-Michel
Oppert, Michael Stumvoll, Henrik Vestergaard, Jean-Daniel Zucker,
Peer Bork, Oluf Pedersen, Fredrik Ba"ckhed, Karine Cle'ment,
Jeroen Raes. Statin therapy is associated with lower prevalence
of gut microbiota dysbiosis. Nature, 2020; 581 (7808): 310 DOI:
10.1038/s41586-020-2269-x ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/06/200615115816.htm

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