In a new study, researchers found that heart failure patients who eat more dietary fiber tend to have healthier gut bacteria, which is linked to a reduced risk of death or need of a heart transplant.
The research was conducted by a team at the Oslo University Hospital, Norway.
The gut microbiota is composed of trillions of microorganisms that have the potential to affect our health.
Previous research has reported reduced biodiversity of microbes in the gut of patients with heart failure patients.
In the study, the team recruited 84 well-treated patients with chronic heart failure and 266 healthy people.
The composition of gut microbes was examined by sequencing the bacterial 16S rRNA gene in stool samples and compared between the two groups.
Heart failure patients had lower biodiversity of intestinal microbes than healthy controls, with differences in the two main phyla of bacteria present in the human gut.
Patients with heart failure had a lower ratio of Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes (F/B) compared to controls.
The team also found that patients who had a heart transplant or died had lower biodiversity and a lower F/B ratio than controls.
Regarding diet, bacterial diversity and Firmicutes levels were positively linked to fiber intake.
The study shows for the first time that this is related to low fiber intake.
The study also linked meat intake to higher levels of trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) in patients with heart failure.
Prior research has shown that increased TMAO levels are linked to a greater risk of heart disease events, and that gut microbes play a role in its formation.
The team says if these findings are confirmed in future studies, heart failure patients to choose foods high in fiber such as cereals, fruits, and vegetables to stimulate a healthy gut flora.
The lead author of the study is Dr. Cristiane Mayerhofer, of Oslo University Hospital, Norway.
The study is published in ESC Heart Failure.
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