Butyrate and Butyrate-Producing Bacteria in Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Syndrome

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic (CKM) Syndrome
• Gut Microbiota
• Metabolic Disorders

Background:

• Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic (CKM) syndrome is a growing global health concern, marked by interconnected cardiac, renal, and metabolic dysfunctions.
• Gut microbiota dysbiosis, particularly a reduction in butyrate-producing bacteria (BPB) leading to systemic butyrate deficiency, is increasingly recognized as a potential driver of CKM.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize evidence linking butyrate to the pathophysiology of CKM.
• To propose the gut-butyrate-CKM axis as a unifying framework for understanding CKM development.
• To explore the protective mechanisms of butyrate and BPB in CKM.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and synthesis of existing human studies.
• Critical appraisal of direct butyrate supplementation, dietary interventions, and microbiota-directed strategies.
• Integration of fragmented observations into a coherent conceptual framework.

Main Results:

• Butyrate and BPB exert protective effects against key CKM features like insulin resistance, inflammation, oxidative stress, and endothelial dysfunction.
• Butyrate acts as a central link between gut homeostasis and systemic cardiorenal metabolic health.
• The gut-butyrate-CKM axis highlights the role of gut health in CKM pathogenesis.

Conclusions:

• Butyrate deficiency is a critical, overlooked factor in CKM progression.
• Targeting the gut microbiota, specifically enhancing butyrate production, offers promising therapeutic avenues for CKM.
• Butyrate-centered approaches represent a potential paradigm shift in managing CKM syndrome.