Systemic erythematous lupus and gut microbiota : a review on its relationship with the development of cardiovascular diseases from the point of view of clinical nutrition

Abstract

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease featuring pleomorphic clinical manifestations whose etiology basically depends on the abnormalities in the functioning of the immunological system coupled to environmental and hormonal factors characterized by the production of antibodies and immunocomplex deposition. People suffering from SLE are prone to have cardiovascular diseases when compared to people in general. Further, several studies suggest that intestine microbiota may have an important role in the progress of such diseases. Microbiota is generally associated with the functioning of the immunological system whose response gets worse due to intestine dysbiosis which may result in a chronic inflammatory stage and, consequently, great cardiovascular risk. Several authors discuss the mechanism by which response to microbiota takes place and the possibility of dietetic interventions. These may comprise probiotics to modify intestine dysbiosis to thwart the disease's progress and frequent cardiovascular disorders in the population. Current paper revises the available literature on the relationship between intestine microbiota and its nutritional characteristics in SLE patients and the development of cardiovascular diseases.