Conclusion
Each person harbors an individually distinct gut microbiome that can be altered by many things, such as diet, environment, and cardiovascular drugs. It is becoming apparent that commonly used cardiovascular drugs interface with a person's "invisible organ" in numerous and unpredictable ways. The studies referenced here describe early evidence that a patient's microbiome directly influences drug pharmacokinetics, just as medications alter concentrations of the many types of human gastrointestinal microorganisms. Exploration of the complex relationship between the gut microbiome and cardiovascular drugs will promote a path toward greater personalization of medication therapy to achieve positive health outcomes for all patients.
Acknowledgment
The authors gratefully acknowledge Dr. Kris Virga of William Carey University for his assistance with developing Figure 1 using ChemDraw software.
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US Pharmacist. 2023;48(2):18-22. © 2023 Jobson Publishing
