Graduation Year

2025

Document Type

Campus Only Senior Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

W.M. Keck Science Department

Reader 1

Pete Chandragsu

Reader 2

Ashley Heers

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Terms of Use for work posted in Scholarship@Claremont.

Rights Information

2025 Kayleen C Sorto

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are among the leading causes of death for the Latino/Hispanic population in the United States. Despite this, the Latino/Hispanic communities remain underserved when it comes to intervention and underrepresented in cardiovascular health research. Recent studies have suggested a connection between gut microbiome and CVD risk, with dysbiosis and reduced levels of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) as potential contributors to CVD development. Migrant communities, particularly those who relocate to the United States, may face notable changes to their diet, lifestyle, and gut microbiome due to acculturation, which may place them at a higher risk for CVDs. Synbiotic intervention—combining probiotics and prebiotics—have demonstrated promise in restoring gut microbiome health and increasing production of SCFAs, potentially mitigating cardiovascular risk. The objective of this study is to assess the effectiveness of synbiotic supplements in reducing CVD risk factors by improving the gut microbial health within Latino/Hispanic migrant communities. This study will analyze the Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio, a marker of dysbiosis, and SCFA levels in a synbiotic treatment group compared to a placebo group. The findings of this research will advance our understanding of the connection between the gut microbiome and cardiovascular health and explore new and culturally relevant strategies for preventing CVD in migrant Latino/Hispanic communities, who may face unique health challenges due to acculturation.

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