Gut microbial characteristics of patients with hyperlipidemia in plateau environment

High-altitude environments, exposing inhabitants to decreased air pressure, low temperatures, low humidity, and increased ultraviolet radiation, can cause epidemiological considerations for populations permanently residing at high-altitude, including cardiovascular diseases, pulmonary morbidities, and memory dysfunction. Studies of Tibetan population living in Lhasa, Tibet (at 3660 meters) and residents who living at moderate altitude on the Yunnan-Kweichow Plateau (1500-2000 meters) in Southwestern China indicated a high prevalence and incidence of hyperlipidemia. Gut microbiota has been suggested to modulate circulating lipids and is a potential goalkeeper of dyslipidemia. However, the compositional and functional characteristics of the gut microbiota remain unexplored. In this study, we have enrolled the indigenous inhabitants in Luqu county, Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Gannan (3000 meters), Gansu Province in Northwest China to detect the composition and function of the gut microbiome in patients with hyperlipidemia from plateau area.