How your gut bacteria controls your cholesterol levels and its impact on heart health

Rose Myint on 31 March 2021

The human gut is made up of trillions of bacteria. In fact, you have more of them than you have cells. In the gut microbiome, the “good” bacteria do more than just help with digestion.

A new study in Cell Host & Microbe explores a species of gut bacteria that can affect cholesterol levels in humans.¹ According to an article in the Harvard Gazette, “the newly discovered bacteria could one day help people manage their cholesterol levels through diet, probiotics, or novel treatments based on individual microbiomes."²

High levels of cholesterol is one of the most prevalent risk factors of heart disease, the number one cause of death.

Scientists have identified the crucial enzyme responsible for the breakdown of cholesterol, but have yet to decipher the exact microbe.

“Those who have this enzyme activity basically have lower cholesterol," says Ramnik Xavier, co-director of the Center for Informatics and Therapeutics at MIT, and investigator at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Although much more researched is needed, this important discovery highlights the fact that our gut bacteria is not only important for normal digestion, but also impacts our heart health.

Having both a healthy balance and a diversity good bacteria contributes to overall health and wellness. This is why Doctor's Biome is composed of 15 out of 17 different strains of probiotics, all of which vary in how and where they function in your digestive system. Taking Doctor's Biome daily helps to maintain a healthy balance of good bacteria, which in turn can have far-reaching benefits beyond just your gut health.

Sources
1. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S193131282030295X
2. https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2020/06/the-connection-between-microbes-and-cholesterol-levels