The Gut, Its Microbiome, and Hypertension

• Published in: Current hypertension reports Vol. 19; no. 4; p. 36
• Main Authors: Richards, Elaine M., Pepine, Carl J., Raizada, Mohan K., Kim, Seungbum
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01-04-2017; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animals; Cardiology; Dysbiosis - complications; Dysbiosis - physiopathology; Family Medicine; Gastrointestinal Microbiome - physiology; Gastrointestinal Tract - microbiology; Gastrointestinal Tract - physiology; General Practice; Gut Microbiome; Gut Microbiome, Sympathetic Nervous System, and Hypertension (MK Raizada and EM Richards, Section Editors); Humans; Hypertension; Hypertension (MK Raizada and EM Richards; Hypertension - etiology; Hypertension - physiopathology; Immune System - physiopathology; Internal Medicine; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Metabolic Diseases; Nephrology; Nervous System - physiopathology; Pathology; Primary Care Medicine; Section Editors; Sympathetic Nervous System; Topical Collection on Gut Microbiome; Hypertension; Gut microbiota; Brain-gut-immune axis; Gut pathology; Renin angiotensin aldosterone system
• ISSN: 1522-6417; 1534-3111
• DOI: 10.1007/s11906-017-0734-1

Purpose of the Review
Evidence is rapidly accumulating implicating gut dysbiosis in hypertension (HTN). However, we are far from understanding whether this is a cause or consequence of HTN, and how to best translate this fundamental knowledge to advance the management of HTN. This review aims to summarize recent advances in the field, illustrate the connections between the gut and hypertension, and establish that the gut microbiota (GM)-gut interaction is centrally positioned for consideration as an innovative approach for HTN therapeutics.
Recent Findings
Animal models of HTN have shown that gut pathology occurs in HTN, and provides some clues to mechanisms linking the dysbiosis, gut pathology, and HTN.
Summary
Circumstantial evidence links gut dysbiosis and HTN. Gut pathology, apparent in animal HTN models, has not been fully investigated in hypertensive patients. Objective evidence and an understanding of mechanisms could have a major impact for new antihypertensive therapies and/or improved applications of current ones.