THE ESSENTIAL
- Researchers have discovered a link between the presence of certain fecal proteins and heart disease.
- These proteins could be used as an early indicator of risk during analyses.
- This would facilitate and accelerate the identification of people with cardiac risks, according to the study.
Your stools say a lot about your health, and not just that of your digestive system. Monash University researchers have identified a link between the presence of certain faecal proteins and cardiovascular diseases such as heart failure.
According to their article published in the journal Gut Microbes on December 22, 2024, this discovery could facilitate the early diagnosis of cardiac risks.
Heart failure: proteins in stools reveal risks
To find out if there were indicators of heart health in the excrement, the researchers used a new analysis method, called metaproteomics. It consists of examining all the proteins of the microorganisms contained in a sample.
In testing, the team analyzed stool samples from 63 people with gastrointestinal or cardiovascular diseases and 27 patients with heart failure.
“We often sequence DNA to identify microbial genetic makeup, but this is the first time we have studied proteins in fecal samples”explains Dr Francine Marques, head of the study, in a press release.
The proteins thus identified were compared to more than 34,000 samples from healthy volunteers who had been followed for a period of 15 to 20 years. Scientists then demonstrated that certain intestinal proteins present in stools could predict the long-term risk of heart failure, heart attack or even stroke.
Fecal proteins: towards early diagnosis of cardiac risks
For researchers, the identified fecal proteins can thus be used as an early indicator of cardiovascular health and enable early detection of risks. Researcher Dr. Francine Marques highlights the ease of access of fecal protein analysis that works “like a non-invasive biopsy”.
“If (the test) is as simple as taking a sample when you go to the bathroom, more people will be able to discover their risk factors earlier and take preventative measures”she explains.
And as she points out: discovering your cardiovascular risks early allows you to tackle the causes such as diet or lifestyle, “and gives us a better chance of aging in good health.”
Health
Canada
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