"Many chronic diseases like atherosclerosis, obesity and diabetes are linked to gut microbes," said Dr. Hazen. "These studies demonstrate the exciting possibility that we can prevent or retard the progression of diet-induced heart diseases starting in the gut. This opens the door in the future for new types of therapies for atherosclerosis, as well as other metabolic diseases."
The gut is getting ever more and more interesting.
About four years ago Cleveland Clinic researchers found that a substance produced in the gut by the digestion of animal fats called TMAO -- trimethylamine N-oxide - contributed to atherosclerosis and heart disease. Now they've found something that inhibits the formation of TMAO. The inhibitor - called DMB - is found in olive oils.
The goal would be to ingest the inhibitor and knock down the production of TMAO before it has a chance to trigger aetherosclerosis and other problems. It suggests, of course, that some cases of heart disease start in the gut with the high production of TMAO.....