Metagenomic Characterization of Gut Microbiota in Individuals with Low Cardiovascular Risk

Area of Science:

• Microbiome research
• Cardiovascular disease
• Metabolic health

Background:

• Cardiovascular diseases are a leading cause of death globally.
• The gut microbiome is increasingly recognized as a key factor in cardiovascular health.
• Early detection of disease shifts is crucial for intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize gut microbiome composition and metabolic pathways in individuals with low cardiovascular risk (LCR).
• To compare LCR individuals with healthy controls to identify early signs of cardiovascular disease.
• To explore the relationship between gut bacteria and cardiovascular risk markers.

Main Methods:

• Shotgun metagenomic sequencing of fecal samples from 25 LCR individuals and 25 matched healthy controls.
• Comprehensive cardiovascular evaluation of all participants.
• Taxonomic and functional profiling using MetaPhlAn 4 and HUMAnN 3.

Main Results:

• Significant differences in gut bacterial community structure were found between LCR and control groups.
• Enrichment of *Faecalibacterium prausnitzii* in LCR individuals, negatively correlating with ApoB.
• *Fusicatenibacter saccharivorans* positively correlated with ApoB; altered nucleotide biosynthesis and glycolysis pathways observed in LCR group.

Conclusions:

• Distinct gut microbiome signatures in LCR individuals may indicate early cardiovascular disease development.
• Opposing correlations of *F. prausnitzii* and *F. saccharivorans* with lipid parameters suggest roles in cardiometabolic health.
• Gut microbiome signatures could serve as early indicators of metabolic dysregulation preceding cardiovascular disease.