Does Gut Microbial Methylglyoxal Metabolism Impact Human Physiology?

Methylglyoxal (MGO) is a highly reactive dicarbonyl associated with oxidative stress, inflammation, and chronic diseases, particularly diabetic vascular complications and atherosclerosis through the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs). In the setting of human/host diseases, the forma...

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Main Authors: Oluwatomisono I. Akinrimisi, Kim Maasen, Jean L. J. M. Scheijen, Ina Nemet, Max Nieuwdorp, Casper G. Schalkwijk, Nordin M. J. Hanssen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Antioxidants
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/14/7/763
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author Oluwatomisono I. Akinrimisi
Kim Maasen
Jean L. J. M. Scheijen
Ina Nemet
Max Nieuwdorp
Casper G. Schalkwijk
Nordin M. J. Hanssen
author_facet Oluwatomisono I. Akinrimisi
Kim Maasen
Jean L. J. M. Scheijen
Ina Nemet
Max Nieuwdorp
Casper G. Schalkwijk
Nordin M. J. Hanssen
author_sort Oluwatomisono I. Akinrimisi
collection DOAJ
description Methylglyoxal (MGO) is a highly reactive dicarbonyl associated with oxidative stress, inflammation, and chronic diseases, particularly diabetic vascular complications and atherosclerosis through the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs). In the setting of human/host diseases, the formation of MGO has mainly been considered as the byproduct of glycolysis. Gut microbes play an important role in the development of cardiometabolic diseases. Here, we discuss a possibility that gut microbes can modulate the MGO pool within the host through (i) the alternation of the host metabolism, and (ii) direct MGO synthesis and/or detoxification by human commensal microorganisms. We also explore how dietary MGO impacts the composition of the gut microbiota and their potential role in modulating host health. This paradigm is highly innovative, with the current literature providing observations supporting this concept. Targeting the gut microbiome is emerging as an approach for treating cardiometabolic diseases through dietary, pre-, pro-, and postbiotic interventions, faecal microbiota transplantations, and the use of small molecule inhibitors of microbial enzymes. This can be a novel strategy to reduce MGO stress in the setting of cardiometabolic diseases and lowering the burden of diabetic complications and cardiovascular disease.
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spelling doaj-art-36bbeb68e32e45e98f9afe1cf1edf7df2025-08-20T03:55:49ZengMDPI AGAntioxidants2076-39212025-06-0114776310.3390/antiox14070763Does Gut Microbial Methylglyoxal Metabolism Impact Human Physiology?Oluwatomisono I. Akinrimisi0Kim Maasen1Jean L. J. M. Scheijen2Ina Nemet3Max Nieuwdorp4Casper G. Schalkwijk5Nordin M. J. Hanssen6Department of Experimental Vascular Medicine, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Science Institute, Amsterdam University Medical Center, location AMC, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The NetherlandsCARIM School for Cardiovascular Disease, Maastricht University, 6229 ER Maastricht, The NetherlandsCARIM School for Cardiovascular Disease, Maastricht University, 6229 ER Maastricht, The NetherlandsDepartment of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland, OH 44195, USADepartment of Experimental Vascular Medicine, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Science Institute, Amsterdam University Medical Center, location AMC, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The NetherlandsCARIM School for Cardiovascular Disease, Maastricht University, 6229 ER Maastricht, The NetherlandsDepartment of Experimental Vascular Medicine, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Science Institute, Amsterdam University Medical Center, location AMC, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The NetherlandsMethylglyoxal (MGO) is a highly reactive dicarbonyl associated with oxidative stress, inflammation, and chronic diseases, particularly diabetic vascular complications and atherosclerosis through the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs). In the setting of human/host diseases, the formation of MGO has mainly been considered as the byproduct of glycolysis. Gut microbes play an important role in the development of cardiometabolic diseases. Here, we discuss a possibility that gut microbes can modulate the MGO pool within the host through (i) the alternation of the host metabolism, and (ii) direct MGO synthesis and/or detoxification by human commensal microorganisms. We also explore how dietary MGO impacts the composition of the gut microbiota and their potential role in modulating host health. This paradigm is highly innovative, with the current literature providing observations supporting this concept. Targeting the gut microbiome is emerging as an approach for treating cardiometabolic diseases through dietary, pre-, pro-, and postbiotic interventions, faecal microbiota transplantations, and the use of small molecule inhibitors of microbial enzymes. This can be a novel strategy to reduce MGO stress in the setting of cardiometabolic diseases and lowering the burden of diabetic complications and cardiovascular disease.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/14/7/763methylglyoxalmicrobiomecardiometabolic diseaseageingdiabetes
spellingShingle Oluwatomisono I. Akinrimisi
Kim Maasen
Jean L. J. M. Scheijen
Ina Nemet
Max Nieuwdorp
Casper G. Schalkwijk
Nordin M. J. Hanssen
Does Gut Microbial Methylglyoxal Metabolism Impact Human Physiology?
Antioxidants
methylglyoxal
microbiome
cardiometabolic disease
ageing
diabetes
title Does Gut Microbial Methylglyoxal Metabolism Impact Human Physiology?
title_full Does Gut Microbial Methylglyoxal Metabolism Impact Human Physiology?
title_fullStr Does Gut Microbial Methylglyoxal Metabolism Impact Human Physiology?
title_full_unstemmed Does Gut Microbial Methylglyoxal Metabolism Impact Human Physiology?
title_short Does Gut Microbial Methylglyoxal Metabolism Impact Human Physiology?
title_sort does gut microbial methylglyoxal metabolism impact human physiology
topic methylglyoxal
microbiome
cardiometabolic disease
ageing
diabetes
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/14/7/763
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