Gut Microbiome Associates With Lifetime Cardiovascular Disease Risk Profile Among Bogalusa Heart Study Participants

Abstract

Rationale Few studies have systematically assessed the influence of gut microbiota on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Objective To examine the association between gut microbiota and lifetime CVD risk profile among 55 Bogalusa Heart Study (BHS) participants with the highest and 57 with the lowest lifetime burdens of CVD risk factors. Methods and Results 16S rRNA sequencing was conducted on microbial DNA extracted from stool samples of the BHS participants. Alpha diversity, including measures of richness and evenness, and individual genera were tested for associations with lifetime CVD risk profile. Multivariable regression techniques were employed to adjust for age, gender, and race (Model 1), along with body mass index (BMI) (Model 2) and both BMI and diet (Model 3). In Model 1, odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for each standard deviation increase in richness, measured by the number of observed operational taxonomic units, Chao 1 index, and abundance-based coverage estimator, were 0.62 (0.39, 0.99), 0.61 (0.38, 0.98), and 0.63 (0.39, 0.99), respectively. Associations were consistent in Models 2 and 3. Four genera were enriched among those with high versus low CVD risk profile in all models. Model 1 p-values were: 2.12×10−3, 7.95×10−5, 4.39×10−4, and 1.51×10−4 for Prevotella 2, Prevotella 7, Tyzzerella and Tyzzerella 4, respectively. Two genera were depleted among those with high versus low CVD risk profile in all models. Model 1 P-values were: 2.96×10−6 and 1.82×10−4 for Alloprevotella and Catenibacterium, respectively. Conclusions The current study identified associations of overall microbial richness and six microbial genera with lifetime CVD risk.

The gut microbiota: An emerging risk factor for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease

“…In this study, increased microbial richness was associated with a decreased lifetime CVD risk profile. After adjustment for age, sex, and race, 8 taxa were significantly associated with CVD risk [64]. Among the identified taxa, 3 genera from the Prevotellaceae, Alloprevotella, Prevotella 7, and Paraprevotella, were associated with CVD risk.…”

“…Cardiovascular disease 16S rRNA sequencing on microbial DNA from stool samples showed a decreased lifetime CVD risk for Alloprevotella, but an increased lifetime CVD risk for Prevotella 2 and Prevotella 7 [64].…”

“…Cardiovascular disease Tyzzerella 4 and Tyzzerella were enriched, whereas Catenibacterium was depleted among individuals with high CVD risk profile [64].…”

“…It is meanwhile well-established that obesity results in dysbiosis of the commensal gut microbiota [38,62], an environmental factor contributing to diet-induced obesity [63]. Consequently, the intestinal microbiome profile is presently emerging as a novel factor associated with lifetime CVD risk [64]. Hypertension is another major risk factor for the development of CVD.…”

“…They identified a reduction in the operational taxonomic unit (OTU) 853 (Bacteroides) and an increase in the OTU 657 (Lactobacillales) and OTU 990 (Clostridium subcluster XIVa) in fecal samples of coronary artery disease patients. A subsample of 112 participants out of 12,989 participants from the Bogalusa Heart Study, 55 participants of which have a high lifetime CVD risk and 57 with a low lifetime CVD risk, were included in a microbiome study [64]. In this study, increased microbial richness was associated with a decreased lifetime CVD risk profile.…”