Recent advances of microbial medicine to prevent and treat cardiovascular disease

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain the leading cause of global mortality, with standard pharmacological interventions often failing to fully address their complex pathophysiology. Recent advances in microbial medicine highlight the human gut microbiome as a critical regulator of cardiovascular health. Gut microbial metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), and indole derivatives play pivotal roles in modulating inflammation, lipid metabolism, immune function, and vascular homeostasis. Dysbiosis, or microbial imbalance, has been strongly associated with atherosclerosis, hypertension, and heart failure. Consequently, therapies targeting the gut microbiota including probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and postbiotics have emerged as promising adjuncts in CVD prevention and treatment. Moreover, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) and synthetic biology approaches using engineered microbes offer novel strategies to restore microbial balance and deliver therapeutic molecules. Dietary interventions, particularly Mediterranean and fiber-rich diets, further support cardiovascular health through microbiota modulation. While preclinical and clinical studies underscore the potential of microbiome-based interventions, challenges related to strain specificity, delivery systems, and regulatory frameworks remain. Nonetheless, integrating microbial medicine into cardiovascular care represents a transformative shift toward precision, holistic, and personalized treatment paradigms. This chapter explores these cutting-edge therapeutic interventions and their implications for reshaping the future landscape of cardiovascular disease management.