Probiotics as Beneficial Dietary Supplements to Prevent and Treat Cardiovascular Diseases: Uncovering Their Impact on Oxidative Stress - PubMed (original) (raw)

Review

. 2019 May 7:2019:3086270.

doi: 10.1155/2019/3086270. eCollection 2019.

Affiliations

Review

Probiotics as Beneficial Dietary Supplements to Prevent and Treat Cardiovascular Diseases: Uncovering Their Impact on Oxidative Stress

Elisardo C Vasquez et al. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2019.

Abstract

The gut microbiota, the ecosystem formed by a wide symbiotic community of nonpathogenic microorganisms that are present in the distal part of the human gut, plays a prominent role in the normal physiology of the organism. The gut microbiota's imbalance, gut dysbiosis, is directly related to the origin of various processes of acute or chronic dysfunction in the host. Therefore, the ability to intervene in the gut microbiota is now emerging as a possible tactic for therapeutic intervention in various diseases. From this perspective, evidence is growing that a functional dietary intervention with probiotics, which maintain or restore beneficial bacteria of the digestive tract, represents a promising therapeutic strategy for interventions in cardiovascular diseases and also reduces the risk of their occurrence. In the present work, we review the importance of maintaining the balance of the intestinal microbiota to prevent or combat such processes as arterial hypertension or endothelial dysfunction, which underlie many cardiovascular disorders. We also review how the consumption of probiotics can improve autonomic control of cardiovascular function and provide beneficial effects in patients with heart failure. Among the known effects of probiotics is their ability to decrease the generation of reactive oxygen species and, therefore, reduce oxidative stress. Therefore, in this review, we specifically focus on this antioxidant capacity and its relationship with the beneficial cardiovascular effects described for probiotics.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1

Figure 1

Summary of the interaction between the gut microbiota and neuroimmune and neuroendocrine systems and the interaction between the gut microbiota and microbiota target organs of the host. The gut microbiota provides (i) a mucosal barrier through tight and adherens junctions between enterocytes, (ii) immunomodulation and anti-inflammation through recruitment of immune cells, and (iii) energy metabolism via metabolites/short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), vitamins, and hormones. The brain-intestine axis acts through both an integrative autonomic nervous system, including the sympathetic/parasympathetic (vagal) afferent/efferent nerve pathways, associated with the neural myenteric network, and a neuroendocrine system, including the hypothalamus-adrenocortical gland system.

Figure 2

Figure 2

Main cardiovascular disturbances observed by our research group in the SHR model and the effectiveness of kefir supplementation to attenuate or revert them. Graphs were constructed based on published data [–30, 32].

Figure 3

Figure 3

Main mechanisms of action of probiotics on the endothelial layer of conductance and resistance vessels showing the deleterious actions of reactive oxygen species and the beneficial actions of probiotics, leading to the attenuation of endothelial dysfunction observed in hypertensive subjects.

Figure 4

Figure 4

Gut microbiota and some relevant molecular pathways linking gut dysbiosis to cardiovascular and cardiometabolic diseases through the bloodstream and via the autonomic nervous system. The main mechanisms of the modulators include the neuroendocrine hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis (ACTH: adrenocorticotrophic hormone), afferent and efferent pathways of the autonomic nervous system (vagal and sympathetic components), reactive oxygen species (ROS), inflammatory markers (interleukins: IL; tumor necrosis factor α: TNF_α_; monocyte chemoattractant protein: MCP1; cyclooxygenase: Cox 2; toll-like receptors: TLR), and dietary metabolic byproducts (short-chain fatty acids: SCFAs; lipopolysaccharides: LPS).

Figure 5

Figure 5

Diagram illustrating the pathways of neural control of cardiac and vascular function through the autonomic neural system and possible sites of action of the probiotics (Pb) based on recent evidence. Mechanosensitive baroreceptors are located in the carotid sinus and aortic arch, and they discharge at BP systole-by-systole bursts of action potentials to the brainstem. The autonomic vagal and sympathetic efferents innervate the cardiac pacemakers and the myocardium (sympathetic ends). The resistance and conductance vessels are innervated by sympathetic efferent components. Modified from Vasquez et al. [28], with permission.

References

    1. Lagier J.-C., Million M., Hugon P., Armougom F., Raoult D. Human gut microbiota: repertoire and variations. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology. 2012;2:p. 136. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2012.00136. -DOI -PMC -PubMed
    1. Rescigno M., Urbano M., Valzasina B., et al. Dendritic cells express tight junction proteins and penetrate gut epithelial monolayers to sample bacteria. Nature Immunology. 2001;2(4):361–367. doi: 10.1038/86373. -DOI -PubMed
    1. Wells J. M., Brummer R. J., Derrien M., et al. Homeostasis of the gut barrier and potential biomarkers. American Journal of Physiology.Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology. 2017;312(3):G171–G193. doi: 10.1152/ajpgi.00048.2015. -DOI -PMC -PubMed
    1. Martens E. C., Neumann M., Desai M. S. Interactions of commensal and pathogenic microorganisms with the intestinal mucosal barrier. Nature Reviews Microbiology. 2018;16(8):457–470. doi: 10.1038/s41579-018-0036-x. -DOI -PubMed
    1. Pimenta F. S., Luaces-Regueira M., Ton A. M., et al. Mechanisms of action of kefir in chronic cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry : International Journal of Experimental Cellular Physiology, Biochemistry, and Pharmacology. 2018;48(5):1901–1914. doi: 10.1159/000492511. -DOI -PubMed

Publication types

MeSH terms

LinkOut - more resources