Could Our Gut Be Fueling Heart Failure?

A  new publication summarises the evidence on the powerful connection between gut health and heart failure. 💡

🔍 Researchers found that:

• When the heart weakens, reduced blood flow compromises the intestinal barrier. This allows bacteria and their by-products to leak into the bloodstream, triggering inflammation and worsening cardiac function.
• Patients with heart failure have increased levels of Proteobacteria and Firmicutes, and reduced levels of Bifidobacteria and Bacteroides and harmful metabolites—including short-chain fatty acids, trimethylamine, and trimethylamine N-oxide—play a key role in this process.

🌱 Promising interventions?

• Researchers are currently investigating the role of plant-rich diets, prebiotics, antibiotics, and even fecal microbial transplantation and natural phytochemicals in improving gut health and reducing the risk of heart failure.

📖 Read our full article in Heart Failure Reviews:
👉 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10741-025-10546-7

Reference: Shoukry, A.E.A., Rahhal, A., and Constantinou, C. The role of the gut microbiota and metabolites in heart failure and possible implications for treatment. Published online on July 25, 2025. Heart Failure Reviews. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10741-025-10546-7