Personalised gut microbiome interventions to improve blood pressure responses to fibre intake

A/Prof Francine Marques, Monash University

Vanguard Grant - 2 Year

Years funded: 2025 - 2026

Using gut microbes to personalise blood pressure treatment

High blood pressure is a significant contributor to death and disability in Australia, as it is the underlying risk factor for half of the cases of stroke and heart disease. Lifestyle has an important role, with intake of a high-fibre diet being associated with lower blood pressure. The protective effects of a high-fibre diet are mediated by the gut microbiome and the production of beneficial microbial substances called short-chain fatty acids. A/Prof Francine Marques and her team recently demonstrated that a short-chain fatty acid-enriched fibre supplement reduced the blood pressure of patients untreated for hypertension. They have now identified some people who benefited from fibre intake (‘responders’) and those who did not (‘non-responders’). They have evidence that this response is based on the gut microbiome composition and the presence of specific microbes capable of producing short-chain fatty acids.

Turning non-responders into responders through targeted fibre therapies

A/Prof Francine Marques and her team will test an innovative concept: establish what makes someone with hypertension a fibre responder based on their gut microbiome and how we turn all patients into responders. They will validate that these microbes help lower blood pressure when fibre intake is high, pioneering the development of targeted strategies to deliver and enhance gut microbial-based therapies for hypertension.

Ultimately, this study will advance our knowledge of the gut microbiota's role in personalised nutrition and offers potential avenues for tailored interventions to promote blood pressure control and better cardiovascular health.