NIH-funded research Fellowship grant

Investigating how diet affects gut bacteria and blood vessel health

Official title: Application of a novel dietary pattern predictive of trimethylamine N-oxide production to examine associations with metabolomic profiles, the gut microbiome, and vascular health

Funded at State University of New York at Buffalo · NIH-10898570 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is looking at how what you eat can affect your heart and blood vessel health, especially for post-menopausal women, by seeing how certain foods change the gut bacteria and a substance called TMAO in your body.

More Gut Microbiome research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeFellowship grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionState University of New York at Buffalo
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Amherst, United States)
Project startJuly 1, 2023
Project endJune 30, 2026
Funding year2024
Award (this year)$40,683
NIH project number5F31HL168805-02
Project IDNIH-10898570 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates for this research are post-menopausal women who are concerned about their cardiovascular health and dietary habits.

Less likely to help

Patients who are not post-menopausal or those without concerns related to cardiovascular health may not benefit from this research.

What this research studies

This research explores the relationship between dietary patterns and vascular health, particularly focusing on how certain foods can influence the gut microbiome and the production of a metabolite called trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO). By analyzing data from post-menopausal women in the Women’s Health Initiative, the study aims to understand how an overall dietary pattern impacts TMAO production and vascular health. The approach includes non-invasive measurements of blood vessel caliber, providing insights into how diet can affect cardiovascular health without the need for invasive procedures.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to dietary recommendations that improve vascular health and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the impact of diet on gut microbiome and cardiovascular health, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.

Where this research is happening

  • State University of New York at Buffalo
    Amherst, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Burns, Kaelyn — State University of New York at Buffalo
  • Study coordinator: Burns, Kaelyn

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

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  • Mapping how gut bacteria transform drugs

    Scientists will study how the gut microbiome changes thousands of drugs into new forms, which could affect how well a medicine works or whether it causes side effects.

    NIH research Stanford University · Stanford, United States · NIH-11550022

  • Aflatoxin exposure and child growth in Guatemala

    A study in rural Guatemala will track how exposure to aflatoxin relates to growth and gut health in young children.

    NIH research Arizona State University-Tempe Campus · Scottsdale, United States · NIH-11513260

  • Gut bacteria that can make cancer immunotherapy less effective

    This project will see if reducing chronic inflammation driven by certain gut bacteria can help immunotherapy work better for people whose cancers have stopped responding.

    NIH research University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr · Houston, United States · NIH-11478145

  • How gut bacteria affect how cancer drugs work

    This project looks at how the bacteria in your gut might change how well and with what side effects fluoropyrimidine cancer drugs like 5-FU work in people.

    NIH research University of California, San Francisco · San Francisco, United States · NIH-11473234

  • Gut bacteria and cancer drugs: how your gut may change chemotherapy effectiveness

    This project studies how the gut microbiome might affect how well certain chemotherapy drugs work and their side effects in people with cancer.

    NIH research University of California, San Francisco · San Francisco, United States · NIH-11473233

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.