Gut Bacteria May Turn Vegetables Into Molecules That…

Gut Bacteria May Turn Vegetables Into Molecules That Protect the Heart and Metabolism, Cell Study Finds Diets rich in vegetables have long been linked to lower cardiovascular and metabolic disease risk, but the exact biological mechanism behind this protection has remained genuinely unclear. A new study published in Cell identifies a previously unknown pathway, gut bacteria appear to transform nitrate and iron from vegetables into protective molecules that benefit the heart, blood vessels, and metabolism. The building blocks, nitrate and iron from everyday foods: Nitrate occurs naturally in many vegetables, particularly beetroot and leafy greens like spinach, rocket, and lettuce. Non-haem iron, the form of iron found in plant based foods such as beans, whole grains, and green vegetables, is similarly a common part of most diets. What researchers discovered: Gut bacteria can combine nitrate and non-haem iron from food to produce compounds called dinitrosyl iron complexes, or DNICs. Once formed, these molecules can be absorbed into the body and carried to different organs, particularly the liver and kidneys. Confirming gut bacteria are essential to this process: The st