The large-scale international study analysis integrating and harmonizing data from 56,989 people from 32 countries around the World revealed that the gut microbe Blastocystis, which is a single-celled organism commonly found within the digestive system, is linked to indicators of good cardiovascular health and decreased body fat.
Blastocystis has been labeled as either a parasite or a harmless organism, and its effects on health and disease are controversial and likely to be context dependent. However, according to co-lead author Long H. Nguyen, MD, MS, a physician investigator in the Clinical and Translational Epidemiology Unit and Division of Gastroenterology at MGH, this study suggests that it may have beneficial roles in how diet impacts human health and disease.
“At the very least, its ubiquity may suggest a non-pathogenic role,” said Nguyen who is also an assistant professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and a Chen Institute Department of Medicine Transformative Scholar at MGH. “We found that Blastocysis’ presence and abundance varied by region and were influenced by diet.”
Higher Blastocystis levels were linked to better short-term markers of cardiometabolic health, such as more favorable blood sugar levels and lipid profiles which suggests a positive impact on cardiometabolic health beyond the effects of a healthy diet alone. Additionally, lower levels of Blastocystis were linked with more negative long-term outcomes such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
Blastocystis presence and abundance were associated with the intake of certain food items and overall dietary patterns that favor a more healthful plant-based diet which includes minimally processed foods. What’s more is that Blastocystis is hardly ever found in newborns, suggesting that it is acquired later in life, and it has even been found in stool samples dating back to 595 A.D. indicating that it is not limited to being a marker of more modern microbiome.
In a separate 6-month personalized diet intervention study, improvements in adult diet quality were linked with the subsequent increase in both the prevalence and abundance of Blastocystis. People with healthier diets had higher levels of Blastocystis.
“Overall, our findings suggest a potentially beneficial modulating role for Blastocystis, which may help explain individualized responses to diet and differences in digestive health depending on the presence and level of Blastocystis,” said Nguyen. “Also, our results indicate that Blastocystis may not be a parasite with detrimental host effects but, rather, a favorable constituent of the human gut microbiome.”
As with anything you read on the internet, this article should not be construed as medical advice; please talk to your doctor or primary care provider before changing your wellness routine. This article is not intended to provide a medical diagnosis, recommendation, treatment, or endorsement. Additionally, it is not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, or anyone or anything. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
Content may be edited for style and length.
References/Sources/Materials provided by:
https://www.massgeneral.org/news/press-release/gut-microbe-help-people-benefit-eating-healthy-foods
