Beneficial gut bacteria metabolize fiber to improve heart health in mice

(University of Wisconsin-Madison) In support of a microbial connection between fiber and heart health, researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have identified a particular fatty acid as the mechanism behind certain protective effects of a high-fiber diet in a mouse model. Known as butyrate, this fatty acid is produced by certain bacteria in the gut as they digest plant fiber.
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: news