Targeting Gut Microbiota with Probiotics and Phenolic Compounds in the Treatment of Atherosclerosis: A Comprehensive Review

• Published in: Foods Vol. 13; no. 18; p. 2886
• Main Authors: Cruz Neto, José Patrocínio Ribeiro, de Luna Freire, Micaelle Oliveira, de Albuquerque Lemos, Deborah Emanuelle, Ribeiro Alves, Rayanne Maira Felix, de Farias Cardoso, Emmily Ferreira, de Moura Balarini, Camille, Duman, Hatice, Karav, Sercan, de Souza, Evandro Leite, de Brito Alves, José Luiz
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 12.09.2024; MDPI
• Subjects: Arteriosclerosis; Atherogenesis; Atherosclerosis; Bacteria; Bile acids; Blood circulation disorders; Cell adhesion & migration; Cytokines; Diabetes; Disease; Drug therapy; Dysbacteriosis; Endothelium; Fatty acids; Fermentation; Functional foods; Functional foods & nutraceuticals; gut microbiota; Health promotion; Homeostasis; Hypertension; Immune system; Inflammation; Intestinal microflora; Lipid metabolism; Lipids; Metabolic disorders; Metabolites; Microbiota; Microbiota (Symbiotic organisms); Microorganisms; Modulation; nutraceuticals; Oxidative metabolism; Oxidative stress; Phenols; Physiological aspects; probiotic; Probiotics; Quercetin; Resveratrol; Review; Reviews; Taxonomy; Thrombosis; Type 2 diabetes; Vascular diseases; atherosclerosis; quercetin; probiotic; resveratrol; nutraceuticals; gut microbiota
• ISSN: 2304-8158; 2304-8158
• DOI: 10.3390/foods13182886

Atherosclerosis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory vascular disease. Dysregulated lipid metabolism, oxidative stress, and inflammation are the major mechanisms implicated in the development of AS. In addition, evidence suggests that gut dysbiosis plays an important role in atherogenesis, and modulation of the gut microbiota with probiotics and phenolic compounds has emerged as a promising strategy for preventing and treating AS. It has been shown that probiotics and phenolic compounds can improve atherosclerosis-related parameters by improving lipid profile, oxidative stress, and inflammation. In addition, these compounds may modulate the diversity and composition of the gut microbiota and improve atherosclerosis. The studies evaluated in the present review showed that probiotics and phenolic compounds, when consumed individually, improved atherosclerosis by modulating the gut microbiota in various ways, such as decreasing gut permeability, decreasing TMAO and LPS levels, altering alpha and beta diversity, and increasing fecal bile acid loss. However, no study was found that evaluated the combined use of probiotics and phenolic compounds to improve atherosclerosis. The available literature highlights the synergistic potential between phenolic compounds and probiotics to improve their health-promoting properties and functionalities. This review aims to summarize the available evidence on the individual effects of probiotics and phenolic compounds on AS, while providing insights into the potential benefits of nutraceutical approaches using probiotic strains, quercetin, and resveratrol as potential adjuvant therapies for AS treatment through modulation of the gut microbiota.