Unveiling the hidden ally: Blastocystis links healthier diets and cardiometabolic benefits

Abstract

In a recent study published in Cell,¹ Piperni and colleagues revealed that Blastocystis prevalence varies significantly across geographic regions and lifestyles, with higher carriage linked to healthier plant-based diets and favorable cardiometabolic profiles. These findings position Blastocystis as a potential biomarker for gut health and metabolic well-being, challenging its traditional perception as a pathogen (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1

Global prevalence, dietary associations, and potential health implications of Blastocystis. a The analysis included metagenomic sequencing of stool samples from 56,989 individuals across 32 countries, accompanied by dietary and metabolic metadata. High-throughput sequencing and machine learning models (random forest) were employed to predict Blastocystis presence. The bar chart illustrates the geographic variability in Blastocystis prevalence (adapted from Piperni et al.). Fiji exhibited the highest prevalence (56.29%), while Japan had the lowest (2.46%). Subtypes (STs) varied by region, with ST1 and ST2 dominating in non-Westernized populations and ST4 more common in Europe. b The association of Blastocystis carriage with plant-based foods promotes gut health and correlates with increased Blastocystis abundance. It highlights the potential effects of Blastocystis on gut microbiome diversity, microbial metabolite production (e.g., SCFAs, BAs, tryptophan derivatives), and intestinal barrier integrity, which collectively contribute to favorable cardiometabolic biomarkers. Created with Biorender.com

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