{"id":23725,"date":"2025-12-15T15:39:52","date_gmt":"2025-12-15T20:39:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vitamins.vitanetonline.com\/?p=23725"},"modified":"2025-12-15T15:39:52","modified_gmt":"2025-12-15T20:39:52","slug":"heart-trouble-the-gut-heart-axis-edema-and-scfas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vitamins.vitanetonline.com\/index.php\/heart-trouble-the-gut-heart-axis-edema-and-scfas\/","title":{"rendered":"Heart Trouble, The Gut-Heart Axis, Edema and SCFAs"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-23726\" src=\"https:\/\/vitamins.vitanetonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/HeartvalveandSCFAs-1024x559.jpg\" alt=\"The Gut Heart Axis, Leaking Valve and SCFAs\" width=\"1024\" height=\"559\" srcset=\"https:\/\/vitamins.vitanetonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/HeartvalveandSCFAs-1024x559.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/vitamins.vitanetonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/HeartvalveandSCFAs-300x164.jpg 300w, https:\/\/vitamins.vitanetonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/HeartvalveandSCFAs-768x419.jpg 768w, https:\/\/vitamins.vitanetonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/HeartvalveandSCFAs-1536x838.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/vitamins.vitanetonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/HeartvalveandSCFAs-2048x1117.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>When a person has a leaky heart valve, it causes other health issues like edema. What happens to the heart that causes the valve to start leaking in the first place? Is there cartilage involved or the breakdown of cartilage? Is there a way to naturally repair the valve? Can SCFAs help in the repair or provide the right environment for the body to repair the issue?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lets answer these question: it is understandable to be concerned about the ripple effects of a leaky heart valve, such as edema (fluid swelling), and to look for root causes and potential natural solutions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Heart valves are not made of cartilage<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, though they share similar building blocks. While the body has limited ability to physically &#8220;regrow&#8221; a damaged valve seal, optimizing your internal environment &#8211; specifically through the gut-heart axis and Short-Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs) &#8211; can play a significant role in managing the condition and preventing progression.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here is a breakdown of the mechanics, the biology, and the potential role of SCFAs.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>1. What causes the valve to leak? (The Mechanics)<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A &#8220;leaky&#8221; valve means the valve flaps do not close tightly, allowing blood to flow backward. This forces the heart to pump harder to move the same amount of blood, eventually leading to fluid backup (edema) in the legs or lungs.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Common Causes:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Calcification:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Over time, calcium deposits can build up on the valve flaps, making them stiff and unable to close effectively. This is similar to &#8220;hardening of the arteries.&#8221;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Chords Stretching\/Breaking:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The mitral valve is anchored by tiny tendon-like strings called <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">chordae tendineae<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. If these stretch or snap (due to high pressure or weakness), the valve flaps flop backward (prolapse).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Heart Enlargement:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> If the heart muscle itself enlarges (due to high blood pressure or heart failure), it physically stretches the ring (annulus) that holds the valve. The valve flaps remain the same size, but the doorway they need to cover has gotten too big.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>2. Is Cartilage Involved?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No, but it is a similar concept.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Heart valves are not made of cartilage (like your nose or knee meniscus). Instead, they are made of highly organized collagen and elastin fibers.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Collagen:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Provides strength and structure (like the frame of a house).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Elastin:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Allows the valve to stretch and snap back into shape with every beat (like a rubber band).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Breakdown:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Just like cartilage in a knee can wear down, the collagen and elastin in heart valves can degrade. This is often driven by chronic inflammation and oxidative stress, which damage these proteins and replace flexible tissue with stiff scar tissue or calcium deposits.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>3. Can you naturally repair the valve?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><b>The honest truth:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Once a heart valve is physically torn, severely calcified, or a chord has snapped, the body generally cannot &#8220;regrow&#8221; or &#8220;reseal&#8221; that tissue on its own. There is no supplement that will stitch the valve back together.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>However,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> you <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">can<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> naturally support the heart to:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Prevent worsening:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Stop the inflammation that is degrading the remaining collagen.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Reduce the leak&#8217;s impact:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Strengthen the heart muscle so it can compensate for the leak without failing.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Reverse &#8220;Functional&#8221; Leaks:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> If the valve is leaking because the heart is enlarged (stretched), reducing blood pressure and inflammation can sometimes allow the heart to shrink back to a normal size, helping the valve leaflets touch again.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3><b>4. The Role of SCFAs (The Gut-Heart Axis)<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The biological mechanisms of SCFAs, this is where the most promising &#8220;natural&#8221; support lies. While SCFAs likely won&#8217;t physically repair the valve tissue, they provide the <\/span><b>ideal environment<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to stop the driver of the damage.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here is the specific mechanism:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Energy for the Failing Heart<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A heart with a leaky valve works overtime and is energy-starved.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Mechanism:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Typically, the heart runs on fatty acids. In a stressed state, it struggles to produce energy.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>SCFA Role:<\/b> <b>Butyrate<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><b>acetate<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can be used as an efficient, alternative fuel source for cardiomyocytes (heart muscle cells). This helps the heart pump more efficiently despite the mechanical disadvantage of the leak.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ol>\n<li><b> Stopping the &#8220;Stiffening&#8221; (Fibrosis)<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>The Problem:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> When a valve leaks, the heart muscle undergoes &#8220;remodeling&#8221;\u2014it gets stiff and fibrous to handle the stress. This stiffness makes the leak worse.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>SCFA Role:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Research suggests SCFAs (especially Butyrate) act as <\/span><b>HDAC inhibitors<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (histone deacetylase inhibitors). This is a genetic &#8220;switch&#8221; that can suppress the pathways that cause heart tissue to become fibrous and stiff. By keeping the heart muscle flexible, you reduce the strain on the valve ring.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ol>\n<li><b> Reducing Blood Pressure (The Afterload)<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>The Problem:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> High blood pressure forces the valve to slam shut harder and resist more pressure.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>SCFA Role:<\/b> <b>Propionate<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><b>butyrate<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> interact with receptors (GPR41 and GPR43) in the blood vessels to induce vasodilation (relaxing of arteries). Lowering blood pressure reduces the &#8220;back-pressure&#8221; on the leaking valve, significantly decreasing the volume of the leak (regurgitation fraction).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Summary of Action Plan<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you are looking to support this naturally, the goal is to <\/span><b>preserve the collagen<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><b>reduce the load<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Support Collagen:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Since the valve is collagen-based, nutrients like <\/span><b>Vitamin C<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><b>Lysine<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and <\/span><b>Proline<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are critical for maintaining the integrity of the valve tissue (similar to the Linus Pauling protocol).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Leverage SCFAs:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Focus on <\/span><b>Butyrate<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (via resistant starch\/fiber or supplementation like inulin and Acacia gum) to control systemic inflammation and provide fuel for the stressed heart muscle.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Manage K2:<\/b> <b>Vitamin K2 (MK-7)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is essential to direct calcium <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">into<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> bones and <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">out<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of soft tissues like heart valves, potentially slowing down calcification.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>In summary:<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A leaky heart valve is typically caused by calcification, structural tearing, or heart enlargement rather than cartilage breakdown, as valves are composed primarily of collagen and elastin fibers. While the body cannot naturally &#8220;regrow&#8221; a damaged valve seal, progression can be managed by optimizing the internal environment to reduce strain and inflammation. Short-Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs) play a vital role in this support system: they provide an efficient alternative fuel source for stressed heart muscle, inhibit the fibrosis that stiffens heart tissue, and help lower blood pressure, which reduces the mechanical load the valve must withstand.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Next:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-23727\" src=\"https:\/\/vitamins.vitanetonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/SCFAsandMicrocirculation-1024x559.jpg\" alt=\"Microcirculation, Edema and SCFAs\" width=\"1024\" height=\"559\" srcset=\"https:\/\/vitamins.vitanetonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/SCFAsandMicrocirculation-1024x559.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/vitamins.vitanetonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/SCFAsandMicrocirculation-300x164.jpg 300w, https:\/\/vitamins.vitanetonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/SCFAsandMicrocirculation-768x419.jpg 768w, https:\/\/vitamins.vitanetonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/SCFAsandMicrocirculation-1536x838.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/vitamins.vitanetonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/SCFAsandMicrocirculation-2048x1117.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><b>When a person has heart trouble like a leaking valve, and experiences edema, does the edema come from microcirculation leakage and can SCFAs help prevent edema in those with this kind of heart trouble?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To answer this question directly: <\/span><b>Yes, edema occurs at the level of the microcirculation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and while Short-Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs) cannot fix the mechanical problem of a leaking valve, biological evidence suggests they can help strengthen the blood vessel walls to <\/span><b>resist the leakage<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> caused by that pressure.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here is the breakdown of the mechanism and how SCFAs (specifically Butyrate) fit into the &#8220;Gut-Heart&#8221; equation.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>1. The Mechanism: Is it &#8220;Microcirculation Leakage&#8221;?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yes. When a person has a leaking heart valve (regurgitation), the heart cannot pump blood forward efficiently. This causes blood to back up, eventually increasing pressure in your tiniest blood vessels\u2014the <\/span><b>capillaries<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (microcirculation).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can think of it like a soaker hose in a garden:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>The Valve Issue:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> If you kink the hose (or the pump fails), pressure builds up behind the kink.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>The Microcirculation:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The capillaries are like the porous walls of the soaker hose.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>The Edema:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> When the pressure inside the hose is too high, water is forced out through the pores faster than the soil can absorb it. In the body, this fluid is pushed out of the capillaries and into the surrounding tissue.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, in heart conditions, it isn&#8217;t <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">just<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> high pressure. The vessel walls often become inflamed and &#8220;loose,&#8221; making them leakier than they should be. This is where SCFAs come in.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>2. How SCFAs Can Help Prevent\/Manage Edema<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SCFAs (Butyrate, Propionate, Acetate) are famous for sealing a &#8220;leaky gut,&#8221; but research shows they also help seal &#8220;leaky vessels&#8221; throughout the body.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here are the three specific mechanisms by which they may help manage edema:<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><b>A. Strengthening the Endothelial Barrier (The &#8220;Glue&#8221;)<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your blood vessels are lined with endothelial cells. These cells are stitched together by proteins called <\/span><b>Tight Junctions<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (specifically <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">VE-cadherin<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Occludin<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>The Problem:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Chronic inflammation from heart trouble can degrade these proteins, creating gaps between the cells. Fluid leaks out through these gaps easily.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>The SCFA Fix:<\/b> <b>Butyrate<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> has been shown to inhibit the breakdown of these tight junctions. It effectively acts as &#8220;biological glue,&#8221; tightening the seal between endothelial cells so they can hold fluid inside the vessel better, even under pressure.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><b>B. Protecting the Glycocalyx (The &#8220;Shield&#8221;)<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Inside your microcirculation, there is a slippery, gel-like coating called the <\/span><b>Endothelial Glycocalyx<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. This layer acts as a primary filter that prevents fluid and proteins from leaking out.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>The Problem:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> In heart failure and high venous pressure, this protective gel layer is often stripped away or damaged.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>The SCFA Fix:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> SCFAs reduce the oxidative stress that strips this layer away. By preserving the glycocalyx, you maintain the &#8220;waterproofing&#8221; of your microcirculation.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><b>C. The Gut-Heart Axis Loop<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Heart trouble often causes swelling in the gut wall (gut edema), which leads to &#8220;leaky gut.&#8221; This lets bacterial toxins (LPS) enter the bloodstream, causing systemic inflammation that makes <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">all<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> your blood vessels leakier.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>The SCFA Fix:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> By healing the gut lining first, SCFAs stop this flow of toxins. This lowers total body inflammation, which indirectly protects the blood vessels in your legs and lungs from becoming too permeable.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Summary Table: The Leak vs. The Fix<\/b><\/h3>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Factor<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>What Happens in Heart Trouble<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>Potential SCFA Benefit<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Hydrostatic Pressure<\/b><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Blood backs up due to valve; pressure pushes fluid out.<\/span><\/td>\n<td><b>None.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> SCFAs cannot fix the mechanical valve pressure.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Vessel Permeability<\/b><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Inflammation makes capillary walls &#8220;loose&#8221; and porous.<\/span><\/td>\n<td><b>High.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Butyrate tightens cell junctions, keeping fluid in.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Glycocalyx<\/b><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The vessel&#8217;s protective lining is stripped away.<\/span><\/td>\n<td><b>Moderate.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> SCFAs help preserve this lining.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h3><b>The Verdict<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SCFAs cannot strictly <\/span><b>prevent<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> edema if the mechanical back-pressure from the heart is severe enough (physics will win eventually). However, they can <\/span><b>raise the threshold<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for when swelling starts. By making your microcirculation tougher and less permeable, your vessels can handle higher pressures before they start leaking fluid into your tissues.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Edema associated with heart valve trouble is indeed caused by microcirculation leakage, where mechanical back-pressure forces fluid through the tiny pores of capillary walls. While Short-Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs) cannot repair the physical valve defect, they provide a crucial biological defense by strengthening the integrity of these blood vessels. Specifically, SCFAs like butyrate act as a &#8220;biological glue&#8221; that reinforces the tight junctions between endothelial cells and preserves the protective glycocalyx lining, essentially waterproofing the vessels so they are more resilient against the high pressure and less prone to leaking fluid into surrounding tissues.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When a person has a leaky heart valve, it causes other health issues like edema. What happens to the heart that causes the valve to start leaking in the first place? Is there cartilage involved or the breakdown of cartilage? Is there a way to naturally repair the valve? Can SCFAs help in the repair [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":23726,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[909],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-23725","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-features","8":"entry"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v21.3 (Yoast SEO v27.2) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Heart Trouble, The Gut-Heart Axis, Edema and SCFAs - Vitamins and Their Uses<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/vitamins.vitanetonline.com\/index.php\/heart-trouble-the-gut-heart-axis-edema-and-scfas\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Heart Trouble, The Gut-Heart Axis, Edema and SCFAs\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"When a person has a leaky heart valve, it causes other health issues like edema. 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