Unveiling the hidden ally: Blastocystis links healthier diets and cardiometabolic benefits
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Ketone body metabolism and cardiometabolic implications for cognitive health
Cardiometabolic complications of obesity present a growing public health concern and are associated with poor outcomes, mediated in part by an increased risk for cardiovascular disease, metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease, and systemic insulin resistance. Recent studies support that both insulin resistance and obesity are also associated with aberrant brain metabolism and cognitive impairment similar to what is observed in neurodegenerative diseases. Central to these pathological outcomes are adverse changes in tissue glucose and ketone body metabolism, suggesting that regulation of substrate utilization could be a mechanistic link between the cardiometabolic outcomes of obesity and the progression of cognitive decline. Here, we review ketone body metabolism in physiological and pathological conditions with an emphasis on the therapeutic potential of ketone bodies in treating cardiometabolic diseases and neurodegenerative diseases that lead to cognitive decline. We highlight recent findings in the associations among cardiometabolic disease, ketone body metabolism, and cognitive health while providing a theoretical framework by which ketone bodies may promote positive health outcomes and preserve cognitive function.
Cardiometabolic disease risk in gorillas is associated with altered gut microbial metabolism
Cardiometabolic disease is the leading cause of death in zoo apes; yet its etiology remains unknown. Here, we investigated compositional and functional microbial markers in fecal samples from 57 gorillas across U.S. zoos, 20 of which are diagnosed with cardiovascular disease, in contrast with 17 individuals from European zoos and 19 wild gorillas from Central Africa. Results show that zoo-housed gorillas in the U.S. exhibit the most diverse gut microbiomes and markers of increased protein and carbohydrate fermentation, at the expense of microbial metabolic traits associated with plant cell-wall degradation. Machine learning models identified unique microbial traits in U.S. gorillas with cardiometabolic distress; including reduced metabolism of sulfur-containing amino acids and hexoses, increased abundance of potential enteric pathogens, and low fecal butyrate and propionate production. These findings show that cardiometabolic disease in gorillas is potentially associated with altered gut microbial function, influenced by zoo-specific diets and environments.
The oral-gut microbiota axis: a link in cardiometabolic diseases
The oral-gut microbiota axis plays a crucial role in cardiometabolic health. This review explores the interactions between these microbiomes through enteric, hematogenous, and immune pathways, resulting in disruptions in microbial balance and metabolic processes. These disruptions contribute to systemic inflammation, metabolic disorders, and endothelial dysfunction, which are closely associated with cardiometabolic diseases. Understanding these interactions provides insights for innovative therapeutic strategies to prevent and manage cardiometabolic diseases.
Does adopting a healthy diet improve periodontal parameters in patients susceptible to periodontal disease? A systematic review
The aim of this systematic review is to evaluate evidence relating to whether adopting a diet, associated with improved outcomes for chronic systemic diseases with an inflammatory component, can improve periodontal parameters in patients with periodontal diseases.
Triangulation for causal loop diagrams: constructing biopsychosocial models using group model building, literature review, and causal discovery
The complex nature of many health problems necessitates the use of systems thinking tools like causal loop diagrams (CLDs) to visualize the underlying causal network and facilitate computational simulations of potential interventions. However, the construction of CLDs is limited by the constraints and biases of specific sources of evidence. To address this, we propose a triangulation approach that integrates expert and theory-driven group model building, literature review, and data-driven causal discovery. We demonstrate the utility of this triangulation approach using a case example focused on the trajectory of depressive symptoms in response to a stressor in healthy adults. After triangulation with causal discovery, the CLD exhibited (1) greater comprehensiveness, encompassing multiple research fields; (2) a modified feedback structure; and (3) increased transparency regarding the uncertainty of evidence in the model structure. These findings suggest that triangulation can produce higher-quality CLDs, potentially advancing our understanding of complex diseases.
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