About one in four Dutch people have high blood pressure. This is even half for people over 65. There is currently no miracle pill against the condition, but new research mentions two promising probiotic bacterial strains as possible treatment methods.
High blood pressure causes few or no acute symptoms, but it is a silent killer that can lead to cardiovascular disease, which kills millions of people worldwide every year. The cause is mainly an unhealthy lifestyle. Think of eating too much salt, too little fruit and vegetables, too much sugar, obesity and little exercise, but air pollution can also increase the risk of high blood pressure.
Lab mice on sugar water and probiotics
However, there is hope: recent studies point to the protective effect of probiotics. Certain lactic acid bacteria in the intestinal microbiome ensure that blood pressure is regulated and the cardiovascular system becomes healthier. Scientists are not yet completely clear on how this all works. That is why new experimental research has been conducted in mice into the effect of two probiotics, Bifidobacterium lactis in Lactobacillus rhamnosus. We looked at how these intestinal bacteria changed the microbiome in sixteen weeks and looked for an explanation for the protective effect against high blood pressure.
Fermented foods
“There is increasing evidence that probiotics and probiotic fermented foods can lower high blood pressure. This has been demonstrated in both test tube experiments and in animals,” says lead researcher Jun Li of the City University of Hong Kong. “That’s why we think probiotic foods are a good supplement to regular hypertension treatments.”
Link between sugar consumption and high blood pressure
Previous research confirmed a link between eating a lot of sugar and high blood pressure, which is partly why more studies have been conducted in recent years into the effect of sugar on the intestinal microbiome. In the new study, the researchers first saddled lab mice with high blood pressure by feeding them sugar water. The animals were then given one of the two probiotic bacterial strains in combination with their high-fructose diet for sixteen weeks.
In addition, there was a control group that received sugar water without the special lactic acid bacteria, and a control group that only drank pure water. The blood pressure of the mammals was tested every four weeks and it turned out that hypertension was significantly lower in the probiotic groups. Interestingly, the pure water-drinking control group showed the same decrease. From this, the team concludes that probiotics return blood pressure to normal levels.
The composition of the intestinal microbiome
To be precise, a diet high in sugar ensures that there are more Bacteroidetes and fewer Firmicutes bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract. However, after treatment with the probiotics, the amounts return to the old level – equal to the values of the control group. Four other bacterial strains were also discovered that play a role in high blood pressure: more Lawsonia and Pyrolobus bacteria, and fewer Alistipes and Alloprevotella, ensure lower blood pressure in the mice.
The scientists now want to test the protective effect of probiotics in people suffering from hypertension. “Probiotics offer promising opportunities to prevent and cure diseases,” said Sun. “In this way, the blood pressure of large groups of people can be regulated and we can improve the treatment of cardiovascular health.”
Diastolic versus systolic pressure
Blood pressure is the pressure in your blood vessels that is needed to pump blood to all your muscles and organs. For this pumping, your heart must continually contract and relax. This is called systole and diastole. The systolic pressure, or upper pressure, is the maximum pressure that arises when the heart contracts, as blood is pumped into the arteries. Diastolic pressure, or negative pressure, occurs between two contractions of the heart, when it fills with blood, and is the result of a decrease in pressure on the blood vessels.
The upper pressure is the most important for your health. This is ideally below 120, but between 120 and 140 your blood pressure is still normal according to the Heart Foundation. Between 140 and 180 your blood pressure is elevated and above 180 it is seriously elevated. Then you must contact your doctor immediately.
2023-10-21 12:02:26
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