In a groundbreaking study, researchers have discovered that gut bacteria can break down cholesterol, potentially reducing cholesterol levels and the risk of heart disease in individuals. This new research, published in the journal Cell, highlights particular bacterial species in the gut that digest cholesterol, opening the door to new interventions targeting the microbiota to lower cholesterol and improve cardiovascular health.
The researchers examined metabolites and microbial genomes from over 1,400 participants in the Framingham Heart Study, which investigates cardiovascular disease risk factors. They found that a type of bacteria called Oscillibacter absorbs and processes cholesterol from its environment, noting that individuals with higher quantities of this microbe in their intestines exhibited reduced cholesterol levels.