How unhealthy diets affect gut health and heart disease risk
Official title: Obesogenic diet-induced intestinal epithelium repair responses link dysbiosis and cardiovascular disease
Funded at Vanderbilt University Medical Center · NIH-10997320 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how eating a high-fat Western diet can cause gut inflammation and change the bacteria in your gut, which might raise your chances of heart disease, and it aims to find out how these changes happen so we can better understand the connection between what we eat, our gut health, and heart health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, United States) |
| Project start | January 12, 2022 |
| Project end | December 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $441,231 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK131104-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-10997320 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults over 21 years old who are at risk for cardiovascular disease and have dietary habits that may contribute to gut dysbiosis.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not consume a Western-style high-fat diet or those without risk factors for cardiovascular disease may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how a Western-style high-fat diet leads to gut inflammation and changes in gut bacteria, which may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. The study aims to understand the biological mechanisms behind these changes, focusing on how diet-induced damage to gut cells can lead to an imbalance in gut bacteria that promotes heart disease. By examining the role of specific gut bacteria and their metabolites, the research seeks to uncover potential pathways that link diet, gut health, and cardiovascular risk.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for preventing cardiovascular disease by targeting gut health and dietary habits.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the link between diet, gut microbiota, and cardiovascular health, suggesting that this approach has potential for significant findings.
Where this research is happening
-
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Byndloss, Mariana Xavier — Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Byndloss, Mariana Xavier
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.