Certain gut metabolites are linked to an increased risk of heart failure, according to a study published Aug. 9 in Circulation: Heart Failure, an American Heart Association journal.
These metabolites form when the gut microbiome processes protein sources in red meat and other animal products, according to an Aug. 13 news release from Cleveland Clinic.
Researchers from Cleveland Clinic, Tufts University in Boston and the University of Washington in Seattle reviewed data from 11,768 participants with 2,102 incidences of heart failure within a median followup period of 15.9 years. Their analysis aimed to examine any association between metabolite levels and heart failure. Researchers adjusted their analysis for cardiovascular risk factors.
An increased risk of heart failure was seen across three gut microbe-derived metabolites: trimethylamine N-oxide, choline and crotonobetaine, according to the study.