Longevity & AgingGut Bacteria Produce a Fatty Acid That Slows Artery Plaque Buildup in Mice
Gut bacteria may help protect arteries by producing a fatty acid that changes how the liver handles cholesterol. Researchers found that Bacteroides uniformis was more abundant in healthy adults than in adults with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Giving this bacterium to male mice prone to artery plaque buildup lowered cholesterol and reduced plaque compared with untreated controls. The team traced the effect to pentadecanoic acid, also called C15:0. This compound reduced cholesterol production in the liver and increased its ability to remove cholesterol from blood. Purified C15:0 reduced plaque burden by about half in another mouse experiment, although the article describes a smaller effect than atorvastatin. These findings suggest a potential treatment pathway, not a reason to start supplements or stop medication. Human benefits, safety, and effective dosing remain unproven.
