Scientists from the University of Oslo have found large amounts of butyric acid, which secrete certain types of bacteria in the intestines of patients with atherosclerosis. The research, published in the journal Scientific Reports, PCR News.
The study included 43 patients with severe atherosclerosis (the narrowing of the lumen of the arteries was 50% or more) and 38 healthy people.
Butyric acid, which has anti-inflammatory properties, is formed during the vital activity of intestinal microbes, especially bacteria from families. Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcaeae.
It has been previously shown that patients with atherosclerosis, hypertension and heart failure generally have a reduction in the number of microorganisms that can produce butyric acid.
In contrast, patients in the new study had significantly more butyric acid in their stool samples than healthy people. The scientists also found no significant difference in the composition of the gut microbiomes of the two groups.
Additionally, fecal butyric acid levels correlated with risk factors for cardiovascular disease: high body mass index, high waist-to-hip ratio, and blood markers of inflammation.
The authors noted that more research is needed to resolve the controversy.