Gut microbiota changes in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and concomitant coronary artery disease

Abstract

Background and the research aim: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) bears serious economic consequences for the health care system worldwide and Ukraine, in particular. Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the main cause of mortality in NAFLD patients. Changes in the gut microbiota composition can be regarded as a potential mechanism of CVD in NAFLD patients. The research aim was the investigation changes in major gut microbiota phylotypes, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria with quantification of Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes in NAFLD patients with concomitant CVD. Materials and methods: There were 109 NAFLD subjects (25 with concomitant arterial hypertension [AH] and 24 with coronary artery disease [CAD]) enrolled. The gut microbiota composition was assessed by qPCR. Results and conclusions: There was a marked tendency towards an increase in the concentration of Bacteroidetes (by 37.11% and 21.30%, respectively) with a decrease in Firmicutes (by 7.38% and 7.77%, respectively) found in both groups with comorbid CAD and AH with the identified changes not reaching a statistical significance. A statistically significant decrease in the concentration of Actinobacteria was revealed in patients with NAFLD with concomitant CAD at 41.37% (p <0.05) as compared with those with an isolated NAFLD. In patients with concomitant AH, the content of Actinobacteria dropped by 12.35%, which was statistically insignificant. There were changes found in the intestinal microbiota composition, namely decrease in Actinobacteria in patients with CAD, which requires further research.