Therefore, we examined the extent to how VSL#3 reduced atherosclerosis, the cardiovascular inflammation, and the effects of VSL#3 on the gut satiety hormones, inflammatory profile and the changes in the gut microbial community in apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE−/−) mice, a well-established and popular model for atherosclerosis (Meir and Leitersdorf 2004). This evidence concerns the gene APOE and atherosclerosis.