How the Gut Microbiome Modulates Vascular Health

January 30, 2025 • Read Time: 5 minutes

Hello there, 

This week, we will delve into the fascinating connection between your gut microbiome and vascular health. Did you know that the trillions of microorganisms in your gut don’t just aid in digestion? They also play a role in the health of your blood vessels by influencing angiogenesis.

The gut microbiome is a vast colony of bacteria and microorganisms living in your digestive tract. These bacteria grow and thrive on the food you eat, producing chemical compounds called metabolites that directly influence your health. Some metabolites, like short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), are beneficial and support vascular health, while others, like trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), can increase the risk of disease. After all, you are what you eat.

Helpful Gut Derived Metabolites: SCFAs

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), such as acetate, butyrate, and propionate, are beneficial metabolites produced by gut bacteria like Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus when they ferment dietary fiber. Foods like fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains fuel these bacteria, promoting SCFA production.

Once in the bloodstream, SCFAs interact with immune cells and blood vessels, activating anti-inflammatory pathways while reducing proinflammatory signals. This helps protect blood vessels, maintain the health of the endothelium (the thin lining of blood vessels), and encourage the controlled growth of new, healthy blood vessels, improving vascular health.

Harmful Gut Derived Metabolites: TMAO

Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) is a harmful metabolite linked to cardiovascular disease. It is produced when gut bacteria, including Emergencia timonensis and Ihubacter massiliensis, break down nutrients like choline and carnitine found in animal-based foods, such as red meat and full-fat dairy.

Once formed in the gut as trimethylamine (TMA), this compound is transported to the liver, where it is converted into TMAO. TMAO enters the bloodstream and interacts with the endothelium. It triggers inflammation by activating immune cells and promoting the release of pro-inflammatory molecules. This weakens the endothelial lining, contributes to plaque buildup in arteries, and raises the risk of atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular diseases.

SCFAs and TMAO in Angiogenesis

A recent review published in the European Journal of Medical Research, highlights how the gut metabolites we just discussed, SCFAs and TMAO, can influence angiogenesis (blood vessel formation) in cancer by either helping tumors grow or slowing their growth. 

SCFAs like butyrate can inhibit excessive angiogenesis in colorectal cancer cells by downregulating factors such as VEGF, which is a key regulator of angiogenesis. Conversely, the gut metabolite TMAO has been shown to promote cell proliferation and angiogenesis in colorectal cancer. These complex interactions highlight the potential for therapeutic interventions targeting the gut microbiota in cancer treatment.

Researchers in this study also explored ways to influence these processes by changing the gut microbiome through diet, probiotics, or fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). These approaches aim to boost the bacteria that slow cancer growth while reducing those that encourage it.

Pop quiz: Which of the following dietary choices best supports the gut in producing healthy SCFAs?

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Looking Ahead

Our gut microbiome holds immense potential for transforming vascular health. By nurturing it with the right foods and exploring innovative therapies, we continue to help our body fight against chronic conditions like heart disease and cancer. Check out the research discussed today and a delicious, high fiber, SCFAs-friendly recipe below!

Spotlight Study: Angiogenesis, a key point in the association of gut microbiota and its metabolites with disease

Spotlight Recipe: Moroccan Chickpea and Vegetable Tagine

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Best wishes,
- The Angiogenesis Foundation