Boston, Massachusetts – Researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital have conducted an international study involving over 50,000 participants globally to explore the relationship between gut Blastocystis and cardiometabolic health outcomes. Blastocystis, often viewed as either a parasite or harmless organism in the digestive system, has been associated with improved cardiovascular health, reduced body fat, and healthier dietary habits among individuals.
The findings of the study, published in the journal Cell, suggest that Blastocystis may play a beneficial role in how the diet impacts human health and disease. Co-lead author Long H. Nguyen, MD, MS, highlighted the potential non-pathogenic role of Blastocystis and emphasized the need for further research to validate these findings.
The study integrated data from nearly 57,000 individuals across 32 countries in North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa to investigate the impact of gut Blastocystis on different dietary foods on individuals’ cardiometabolic health. The presence and abundance of Blastocystis were found to vary by region and were influenced by diet, with a particular association with healthful plant-based and minimally processed foods.
Moreover, the study revealed that higher levels of Blastocystis were linked to better short-term markers of cardiometabolic health, such as favorable blood sugar and lipid profiles. In contrast, lower levels of Blastocystis were associated with long-term outcomes, including obesity. The researchers also observed that improvements in diet quality were linked with increases in Blastocystis prevalence and abundance in adults participating in a six-month personalized diet intervention study.
Overall, the findings suggest a potentially beneficial role for Blastocystis in modulating individual responses to diet and differences in digestive health. The researchers believe that Blastocystis may not be a parasite with detrimental effects on the host but rather a favorable component of the human gut microbiome.
Further studies are needed to determine whether increasing Blastocystis levels could serve as a viable strategy for disease prevention. This research adds to the growing body of evidence exploring the effects of modulating gut bacteria to combat various medical conditions.