These findings suggest that β-CG helps prevent heart damage, at least in part, by promoting the growth of SCFA-producing bacteria in the intestine. Bacteria produce SCFAs in the large intestine during the digestion of fiber and other foods. SCFAs are known to have anti-inflammatory properties and to play a role in maintaining intestinal health. However, their findings suggest they may also help protect the heart from damage caused by high blood pressure.
“An important aspect of this study is that functional soy components showed beneficial effects on the heart,” Furukawa said. “Previously, effects on obesity have been shown, but the effects on cardiovascular disease were not known. Importantly, β-CG intake increases major SCFAs and their producing bacteria as a change in the gut microbiota. These SCFAs may inhibit the progression of heart failure.”
When the researchers used antibiotics to reduce the population of these SCFA-producing microbes in mice, the protective effects of β-CG disappeared. This suggested that the gut microbiota is crucial for β-CG’s heart-protective action. To confirm this, they administered sodium propionate, one of the SCFAs, to the mice and found that it had similar effects to feeding the mice β-CG, reinforcing the idea that SCFAs are a key part in reducing heart damage.
Although the researchers performed this study on mice, the findings suggest that similar mechanisms may help treat heart failure in humans. β-CG or its derivatives could potentially be developed into therapeutic agents that help prevent or slow the progression of heart failure, offering a more natural solution to a major health problem.
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