These are excerpts from articles in Nature journal and its related news and opinion sections, mainly focusing on the impact of diet and gut microbiome on health. Specifically, they explore how calorie restriction delays aging through bile acids, and how a molecule produced by gut bacteria promotes arterial plaque formation, thereby increasing cardiovascular disease risk. Additionally, the articles study the accelerating effect of "yo-yo dieting" (alternating high-fat and low-fat diets) on cardiovascular disease, and elaborate on how imidazole propionate drives atherosclerosis and its potential as a therapeutic target. Together, these studies reveal the complex role of gut microbiota in aging and cardiovascular health.

References:

• https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-02060-5
• Mastrangelo, A., Robles-Vera, I., Mañanes, D. et al. Imidazole propionate is a driver and therapeutic target in atherosclerosis. Nature (2025). doi.org
• https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-03030-z
• https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-04062-1