Abstract
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the leading causes of death globally, characterized by high morbidity and mortality rates. Metabolic disorders are critical risk factors for CVD. In recent years, growing evidence has highlighted the crucial role of gut microbiota in the onset, progression, and pathological mechanisms of both metabolic diseases and CVD. Akkermansia muciniphila (A. muciniphila), a promising next-generation probiotic, has attracted considerable attention due to its unique metabolic functions and immunomodulatory properties. This review systematically summarizes the mechanisms and research progress regarding the role of A. muciniphila in metabolic diseases and cardiovascular diseases. It elucidates how this bacterium exerts beneficial effects on metabolic disorders through multiple pathways, including improving gut barrier function, regulating lipid and glucose metabolism, increasing short-chain fatty acid production, and suppressing inflammatory responses. Meanwhile, A. muciniphila is also involved in cardiovascular protective processes such as anti-atherosclerosis, blood pressure regulation, alleviation of atrial fibrillation, and improvement of pulmonary arterial hypertension. Its mechanisms involve immunomodulation, regulation of metabolites, and multi-level interactions along the gut-cardiovascular axis, offering novel microbial targets and strategies for intervening in related diseases.