Newswise — In a significant Swedish study, scientists have identified a correlation between gut-dwelling bacteria levels and coronary atherosclerotic plaques. These plaques, resulting from the accumulation of fatty and cholesterol deposits, are a leading factor in heart attacks. Conducted by experts from Uppsala and Lund University, the research outcomes are now available in the scientific publication Circulation.
The fresh investigation relied on assessments of gut bacteria and cardiac imaging in a cohort of 8,973 individuals aged 50 to 65, hailing from Uppsala and Malmö, who had no prior history of heart disease. All participants were part of the Swedish CArdioPulmonary bioImage Study (SCAPIS).
"The presence of specific oral bacteria, particularly those belonging to the Streptococcus genus, has been linked to a higher prevalence of atherosclerotic plaques in the coronary arteries when found within the gut microbiota," explains Tove Fall, a Professor in Molecular Epidemiology at the Department of Medical Sciences and the SciLifeLab, Uppsala University, who led the study alongside researchers from Lund University. Streptococcus species are commonly associated with pneumonia, throat infections, skin infections, and heart valve infections. The next step is to investigate whether these bacteria contribute to the development of atherosclerosis."
Technological progress has facilitated extensive and comprehensive characterization of bacterial communities in biological samples through DNA sequencing and comparison with known bacterial sequences. Furthermore, advancements in imaging methods have made it possible to identify and quantify early alterations in the small cardiac vessels. The SCAPIS study stands as a substantial compilation of both types of data, making it one of the largest repositories worldwide. In this research, scientists explored the connections between the gut microbiota and the accumulation of lipid deposits in the heart's arteries.
"With the extensive collection of high-quality data from cardiac imaging and gut flora, we were able to discover new associations. Among our most notable findings, Streptococcus anginosus and S. oralis subsp. oralis emerged as the two strongest associations," explains Sergi Sayols-Baixeras, the lead author from Uppsala University.
Additionally, the research team discovered a connection between certain species associated with the accumulation of fatty deposits in heart arteries and the levels of the same species in the oral cavity. This correlation was assessed by analyzing fecal and saliva samples obtained from the Malmö Offspring Study and Malmö Offspring Dental Study. Furthermore, these bacteria were found to be linked to markers of inflammation in the bloodstream, even after considering variations in diet and medication among individuals carrying the bacteria compared to those who did not.
"We are only scratching the surface of comprehending the intricate relationship between the human host and the bacterial communities residing in various body compartments. Our research indicates a potential association between the presence of streptococci in the gut and compromised cardiovascular health. The next step is to delve deeper into whether these bacteria play a significant role in the development of atherosclerosis," highlights Marju Orho-Melander, a Professor in Genetic Epidemiology at Lund University and one of the senior authors of the study.
Publication: Sergi Sayols-Baixeras et al.; Streptococcus species abundance in the gut is linked to subclinical coronary atherosclerosis in 8973 participants from the SCAPIS cohort. Circulation. 2023. DOI: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.123.063914 [Online ahead-of-print], the link will be: https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.123.063914
RSS