FECAL ZONULIN IS ASSOCIATED WITH CARDIOVASCULAR RISK MARKERS AND INCREASED ARTERIAL STIFFNESS IN A POPULATION-BASED SAMPLE

Abstract

Objective: To identify associations of fecal zonulin with cardiovascular risk factors including vascular damage in population-based sample. Design and method: 77 patients without cardiovascular disease from a population-based sample were randomly invited and signed informed consent. All patients underwent a questionnaire (eating habits, physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption, stress, anxiety, and depression, quality of life, EFPQ), anthropometry, blood pressure and pulse measurement, laboratory examination (biochemical blood test, lipids, fecal zonulin), vascular examination (carotid arteries ultrasound, applanation tonometry by SphygmoCor, volume sphygmomanometry by Vasera). Results: The analysis included 77 patients - 33 (42.8%) male with mean age 52 [43;59] years, and 44 (57.2%) female with mean age 60.5 [47.75;66] years. The results of the linear regression analysis adjusted for sex and age of the level of zonulin are presented in Table 1. Conclusions: Fecal zonulin has been associated with dietary patterns, heart and kidney markers, vitamin D), behavioral habits such as a tendency to depression and increased alcohol consumption, as well as signs of increased arterial stiffness. For the first time, we used an integrated approach using a surrogate marker of increased intestinal permeability and revealed its relationship with dietary characteristics and markers of vascular stiffness.