New metabolic markers of heart disease

A Cleveland Clinic team has identified three phospholipid-based metabolites derived from gut bacteria that are associated with risk of cardiovascular disease in humans.¹ The team plans to develop a serum diagnostic based on the metabolites, which could help identify patients at risk for atherosclerosis and other heart diseases.

The wide variety of bacteria that populate the gut play an essential role in helping humans digest and absorb nutrients. However, recent studies in mice suggest those bacteria also can contribute to disease, in particular to obesity and diabetes.^2-4...