From Your Gut to Your Heart: The Surprising Role of Exercise in Cardiac Recovery

Background:

The gut microbiome plays a crucial role in maintaining human health by interacting with host metabolism, immune function, and disease states. The diverse microbial communities within our gut not only contribute to digestion and nutrient absorption but also produce various metabolites (small molecules created when the body breaks down food and other substances) that influence overall health of the body. Who knew that a heart-healthy life might start with some gutsy friends in our microbiome? As exercise continues to grow in popularity as part of a healthy lifestyle, interest is also growing in understanding how it affects health beyond fitness.

Recent studies have examined how exercise impacts the gut microbiome (Lambert et al., 2015; Motiani et al., 2020) as well as how these microbiome changes may influence cardiovascular health, showing that exercise can modify gut microbiota composition and potentially offer protective effects against cardiovascular conditions (Longoria et al., 2022; Zhou et al., 2022). Understanding the mechanisms behind these relationships could lead to new therapeutic approaches aimed at treating cardiovascular health complications.

November 4, 2024

Heart Health in Your Gut: How the Microbiome Affects Cardiovascular Disease

When we think about heart health, the gut probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. However, new research is shedding light on how the trillions of microorganisms living in our digestive tract—collectively known as the gut microbiome—may play a surprising role in cardiovascular disease (Zhang, Y. et al., 2022).

Cardiovascular Disease: The World’s Deadliest Threat

Cardiovascular disease (CVD), is an umbrella term for conditions affecting the heart and blood vessels, including coronary artery disease (CAD), stroke and high blood pressure. These conditions are the leading cause of death worldwide, with heart attack and stroke being responsible for 85% of these deaths (World Health Organization, 2021). While many factors contribute to CVD, including diet, lifestyle, and genetics, scientists are discovering that the composition of our gut microbiome might also be a key player (Zhang, Y. et al., 2022).

November 4, 2024

What do mamas’ genes have to do with a babies’ guts?

A little bit about Human Milk and its benefits

For as long as we can remember, breastfeeding has been the ideal way to get all the nutrients to an infant (CDC, 2024). Across the world this has been the most natural way of feeding an infant; today there have been alternatives provided to help substitute breast milk. Having these options help mothers that are not able to breastfeed or would like to substitute.In the studies done by Gomes-Gallego et al and Jost et al, focused on the benefits that breastfeeding brings to a mother as well as the infant(Gomez-Gallego et al., 2016)(Jost et al., 2014). The long term benefits can be a bit difficult to determine past the infant stage. Various studies have focused on the gut microbiome, which is a bunch of microorganisms (bacteria) that are found in your body, that is seen in the maternal milks and how that impacts the infant’s gut microbiome (Gomez-Gallego et al, 2016).

Researchers Babakobi et al., were able to find a link between the changes in the mother’s milk composition and how that change can impact the bacteria that is seen in the infants gut (Babakobi et al., 2020). Researchers focused on human milk oligosaccharides (HMO), a complex sugar that has beneficial effects on the development of a healthy microbiome for an infant. They found that the amount of proteins and lactose sugars that are essential for the composition of human milk can vary between women but is essential for the establishment of a healthy and mature gut (Pace et al., 2021)(Ballard & Marrow, 2013) . The composition of human milk is essential for the proper gut maturation and metabolic function as well as providing immune system development of infants. Human milk is made of fats, proteins, sugars and immune components, but what role do mothers’ genetics play in the composition of milk? Johnson et al., focuses on the relationship between maternal genotype, milk composition and infant health. Going into detail on how maternal genetics and gene expression of milk can lead to benefits in the development of the infant microbiome.

November 4, 2024November 5, 2024

Is there a connection between teen Gut Microbiome and IBDs and Obesity?

Background:
The number of people who have irritable bowel diseases (IBDs) and the number of obese people has been increasing since the 1940s (Jin, J. et al, 2021). It has been reported that the number of people diagnosed with IBDs has consistently increased at a varied rate of 1.2% to 23.3% per year from the 1930s until 2010 (Molodecky, N. A. et al. 2012). There are many factors that could lead to this increase in IBDs and obesity diagnoses, alterations to diet, changes to culture, and a further understanding of IBDs and obesity. Irritable Bowel Diseases (IBDs) are incurable and can involve the inflammation of any part of the digestive tract (Halfvarson, J. et al. 2017). Examples are Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis (UC) (UCLA Health). Crohn’s disease involves inflammation in the digestive tract and ulcerative colitis involves inflammation in the rectum and colon (UCLA Health). Obesity can also alter levels of inflammation, and in past studies, obesity and the level of helpful versus unhelpful gut microbes have been found to match in a predictable way (Jin, J. et al, 2021. Franzosa, E.A. et al. 2019).

October 31, 2024

Allies or Adversaries in Health: The Role of Viruses in the Human Microbiome

Background

Coronary Heart Disease

Coronary heart disease is a major contributor to cardiovascular disease, one of the leading causes of death worldwide (Li et al., 2024). Risk factors for Coronary heart disease include a high-fat diet, smoking, alcohol abuse, and lack of physical activity. Atherosclerosis, involving the buildup of fatty deposits in arteries, is the primary cause of Coronary heart disease (Picture 1). Emerging research suggests that the gut microbiome, consisting of bacteria, viruses, and fungi, may influence cardiovascular health by affecting inflammation and lipid metabolism, both of which contribute to atherosclerosis. However, the precise mechanisms behind this relationship are still being investigated.

October 25, 2024November 5, 2024

Could drinking this yogurt beverage daily decrease Polycystic Ovary Syndrome symptoms?

Background

5 to 6 million American women live with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). According to the endocrine society, PCOS affects 7–10% of women of childbearing age and is the most common cause of infertility (Solorzano et al., 2022). PCOS is characterized by consistent inflammation, an irregular menstrual cycle, an excess production of male hormones, cysts formed on the ovaries (which cause pain in the uterine area), and dysbiosis. Dysbiosis is defined by an imbalance in bacterial makeup, changes in bacterial metabolic activities, or changes in distribution of bacteria within the gut. It is involved in the process by which many diseases develop or progress (“pathogenesis”). There are three types of dysbiosis according to a study in an Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) journal: 1) Loss of beneficial bacteria, 2) Overgrowth of potentially pathogenic bacteria, and 3) Loss of overall number of species of bacteria (DeGruttola et al., 2016).

October 25, 2024November 6, 2024

Is city life giving our kids Asthma?

Have you ever wondered why so many people nowadays seem to suffer chronic illnesses and conditions? Have you ever heard a grandparent say “Back in my day, nobody had inhalers”? It would seem as though despite the medical advances we’ve made, we are only getting sicker. As you probably know, humans are full of bacteria and living organisms. Microbes are becoming a hot topic with lots of talk about how these organisms affect our overall health. The communities of bacteria that inhabit our bodies are known as the human microbiome. Now, you might be pondering about the connection between bacteria and chronic illnesses. Fear not, for in this post we will explore the fascinating world of the human microbiome.