Nutrition and Gastrointestinal Microbiota, Microbial-Derived Secondary Bile Acids, and Cardiovascular Disease

Purpose of Review The goal is to review the connection between gut microbiota and cardiovascular disease, with specific emphasis on bile acids, and the influence of diet in modulating this relationship. Recent Findings Bile acids exert a much broader range of biological functions than initially recognized, including regulation of cardiovascular function through direct and indirect mechanisms. There is a bi-directional relationship between gut microbiota modulation of bile acid-signaling properties, and their effects on gut microbiota composition. Evidence, primarily from rodent models and limited human trials, suggest that dietary modulation of the gut microbiome significantly impacts bile acid metabolism and subsequently host physiological response(s). Available evidence suggests that the link between diet, gut microbiota, and CVD risk is potentially mediated via bile acid effects on diverse metabolic pathways. However, further studies are needed to confirm/expand and translate these findings in a clinical setting.