A new study at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden, shows gut bacteria play an important role in controlling cholesterol metabolism which may lead to the invention of new drugs for cardiovascular disease, according to Medical Xpress.
The new discovery can help in developing better drugs and treatments for diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Cholesterol is commonly known as a major risk factor in developing heart disease. The new findings suggest a link between the cholesterol metabolism and gut bacteria.
The research being performed on the functions of gut bacteria and their influence on human health is quite vast. Fredrick Bäckhed's research group, experts in the field, is discovering the connection between gut bacteria and diseases such as diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease, says the report.
The study shows that bile acid synthesis is condensed in the liver by the gut bacteria through a protein in the small intestine known as the FXR receptor. The FXR receptor is not limited to cholesterol metabolism but also affects the sugar content in the body and fat metabolism.
"Drugs that reduce cholesterol levels have, in recent years, greatly reduced deaths from cardiovascular disease. Our study is a step forward because we have shown how gut bacteria regulate the formation of bile acids from cholesterol," said Sama Sayin, medical doctor and PhD student at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg and the study's first author, according to Medical Xpress.
"If future research can identify the specific bacteria that affect FXR signaling in the gut, this could lead to new ways to treat diabetes and cardiovascular disease," said Fredrik Bäckhed, study lead and professor at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg.
The findings of the study are published in an online journal Cell Metabolism, titled "Gut microbiota regulates bile acid metabolism by reducing the levels of tauro-betamuricholic acid, a naturally occurring FXR antagonist."
