Ethanol consumption represents a significant public health problem, and excessive ethanol intake is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. The mechanisms underlying the effects of ethanol on the cardiovascular system are complex and not fully comprehended. The gut microbiota and their metabolites are indispensable symbionts essential for health and homeostasis and therefore, have emerged as potential contributors to ethanol-induced cardiovascular system dysfunction. By mechanisms that are not completely understood, the gut microbiota modulates the immune system and activates several signaling pathways that stimulate inflammatory responses, which in turn, contribute to the development and progression of CVD. This review summarizes preclinical and clinical evidence on the effects of ethanol in the gut microbiota and discusses the mechanisms by which ethanol-induced gut dysbiosis leads to the activation of the immune system and cardiovascular dysfunction. The crosstalk between ethanol consumption and the gut microbiota and its implications are detailed. In summary, an imbalance in the symbiotic relationship between the host and the commensal microbiota in a holobiont, as seen with ethanol consumption, may contribute to CVD. Therefore, manipulating the gut microbiota, by using antibiotics, probiotics, prebiotics and fecal microbiota transplantation might prove a valuable opportunity to prevent/mitigate the deleterious effects of ethanol and improve cardiovascular health and risk prevention.

中文翻译：

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乙醇：通过损害肠道微生物群来打击心血管系统

乙醇消费是一个重大的公共卫生问题，过量摄入乙醇是心血管疾病 (CVD) 的危险因素，心血管疾病是全球死亡和残疾的主要原因之一。乙醇对心血管系统影响的潜在机制很复杂且尚未完全理解。肠道微生物群及其代谢物是健康和体内平衡所必需的不可或缺的共生体，因此已成为乙醇引起的心血管系统功能障碍的潜在贡献者。通过尚未完全了解的机制，肠道微生物群可调节免疫系统并激活多种刺激炎症反应的信号通路，进而促进 CVD 的发生和进展。这篇综述总结了关于乙醇对肠道微生物群影响的临床前和临床证据，并讨论了乙醇诱导的肠道菌群失调导致免疫系统激活和心血管功能障碍的机制。详细介绍了乙醇消耗与肠道微生物群之间的相互作用及其影响。总之，宿主与全生物共生微生物群之间的共生关系失衡，如乙醇消耗所见，可能导致 CVD。因此，通过使用抗生素、益生菌、益生元和粪便微生物群移植来控制肠道微生物群，可能是预防/减轻乙醇的有害影响、改善心血管健康和风险预防的宝贵机会。