Polyphenol-mediated microbiome modulation in STEMI patients: a pilot study

Abstract

Introduction: This study investigates the effects of polyphenol supplementation on gut microbiome composition and cardiovascular health in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Methods: Double-blind randomized control trial where participants received either polyphenol supplementation or placebo for 3 months, after which composition of the gut microbiome; clinical and laboratory parameters, including TMAO levels and oxidative stress levels, were assessed. Results: The stable TMAO levels (from 0.5 [0.2–0.9] to 0.4 [0.3–0.9] μmol, p > 0.05) were observed in the polyphenol group, compared to the increase observed in the placebo group (from 0.5 [0.3–0.6] to 0.7 [0.5–1.4] μmol, p < 0.001). Polyphenol supplementation significantly decreased the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio (p = 0.04) and increased beneficial bacteria such as Roseburia (p = 0.01), Agathobaculum sp. (p = 0.004), Alistipes finegoldii (p = 0.04) and Sellimonas (p = 0.002). Predicted metabolic pathways analysis supports potential mechanisms linking polyphenol intake to microbiome modulation and TMAO regulation. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate that polyphenol supplementation maintains stable TMAO levels by restructuring gut microbiome composition in STEMI patients, evidenced by a more focused microbiome with a significant increase in beneficial butyrate-producing bacteria (Roseburia, Agathobaculum sp., Alistipes finegoldii, and Sellimonas) and a decreased Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, suggesting microbiome-mediated cardioprotective effects. While promising,l our preliminary findings require further studies with larger cohorts and more advanced sequencing methods to establish their significance for cardiovascular health. Clinical trial registration: ClinicalTrial.gov, identfier: NCT06573892.