Scientists confirm heart health benefits of short-chain fatty acids

Researchers reveal the “first proof” that short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) significantly protect against cardiovascular disease and hypertension by up to 20%. SCFAs are released when gut bacteria break down dietary fiber. The study used data from 393,649 European participants in the UK Biobank database. 

The team identified rare genetic variants in participants that profoundly impacted the function of receptors bound to SFCAs, preventing people from using the cardiovascular protection offered by their gut microbes. 

“The study found that disruption in these receptors is associated with up to 20% increased prevalence of hypertension and heart disease or stroke — even after accounting for other risk factors like body weight and smoking,” says lead author Dr. Leticia Camargo Tavares, from the Monash University, Australia.

At the same time, people without the cardioprotective capacity from SCFAs who consumed a diet rich in dietary fiber still had a significantly higher prevalence of hypertension. 

“If they consumed adequate dietary fiber but were unable to turn this into protection against heart disease, then this would prove the importance of short-chain fatty acids signaling in cardio-protection,” explains co-author Francine Marques, professor at Monash University. 

Impact of genetic variation

For the study published in Cardiovascular Research, the team compared individuals with genetic variants and their cardiovascular medical history to controls. 

“We wanted to determine whether people with these genetic modifications had an increased risk of hypertension and major adverse cardiac events, including acute coronary syndrome, heart failure, and ischemic stroke,” says Marques. 

The researchers found that the affected cohort had a significantly higher incidence of hypertension and long-term risk of cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks, heart failure, and stroke.

However, Marques stresses that these genetic variants “occur in less than one percent of individuals.” 

The team is developing a commercially available product to deliver SCFAs orally and considering drug development.The findings follow an earlier clinical trial by the Monash University team, which identified that supplementing SCFAs lowers blood pressure. The team is planning a follow-up trial. 

The team is also developing a commercially available product to deliver SCFAs orally. Moreover, the researchers aim to develop drugs that can activate these receptors disrupted by the genetic variants as a new way to lower blood pressure and prevent heart disease. 

SCFA research advances

Recently, scientists from the Japanese Kobe University discovered that gut microbes feed on glucose excreted by the host, not dietary fiber, to produce SCFAs. Speaking to Nutrition Insight, the research team called for more research into the relative contributions of SCFA derived from fiber versus those made from glucose. 

Another study in Japan suggested that SCFAs regulate the immune system by interacting with mast cells, which are white blood cells vital in allergic reactions. The researchers note that their insights could lead to new anti-allergy medications, supplements, and diets. 

Scientists have also linked plant-based diets to healthier gut microbiomes and cardiometabolic benefits, which stimulate the production of SCFAs. 

Meanwhile, a clinical study on 18 women found that supplementing with Verdure Sciences’ Pomella pomegranate extract improved gut and mitochondrial markers, including enhancing circulating SCFAs through gut microbiome modulation.