Probiotics in common foods like yogurt and cheese can lower the risk of high blood pressure, which affects nearly half of American adults, as can medications prescribed by a doctor.
Researchers in China divided mice into four groups to test the effect of two strains of probiotics, live bacteria found in certain foods and supplements, on high blood pressure, also known as hypertension.
One group was given normal drinking water, one group was given high fructose (sugar) water that caused high blood pressure, and one group each received high fructose (sugar) water that caused high blood pressure, plus one strain of a probiotic.
The probiotics researchers used were Bifidobacterium lactis and Lactobacillus rhamnosus, two strains commonly found in fermented foods such as kimchi and cottage cheese.
Probiotics are found in various fermented foods such as yogurt, cottage cheese, buttermilk, kimchi, sauerkraut, tempeh and miso
The study found that the hypertensive mice given the probiotics had up to 20 percent lower blood pressure levels than the hypertensive group that did not receive the probiotics.
There was also no difference between the blood pressure of mice with high blood pressure given probiotics and mice with normal blood pressure.
The researchers said this shows a potential link between the gut microbiome, a network of bacteria and other microorganisms that live in the digestive tract, and high blood pressure.
Probiotics may be a treatment for the condition, which has been linked to fatal conditions such as heart disease and stroke.
Dr. Zhihong Sun, study author and microbiologist at Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, said: ‘Probiotics represent a promising avenue in preventive medicine, offering potential in controlling high blood pressure and reshaping our approach to cardiovascular health.’
During the study, the researchers measured the mice’s blood pressure every four weeks, for a total of sixteen weeks.
At the start of the experiment, the mice that drank fructose water had significantly higher systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP).
SBP is the top number in a blood pressure reading, which is the amount of pressure the arteries experience as the heart beats.
DBP is the bottom number and refers to the amount of pressure in the arteries while the heart rests between beats.
A healthy blood pressure for humans is 120 SBP and 80 DBP.
SBP levels in mice fed probiotics dropped by about 15 to 17 percent, depending on the probiotic they were given, while DBP decreased by 18.5 to 20 percent.
The researchers are now planning a large clinical trial to see if the results can be replicated in humans.
Probiotics are considered “good bacteria” in the digestive system and can help fight harmful bacteria that can lead to disease.
They can be found in foods such as yogurt, cottage cheese, buttermilk, kimchi, soybeans, kombucha, sauerkraut, tempeh and miso. Supplements of various types are also sold without a prescription.
Probiotics have been shown to relieve digestive problems such as diarrhea, constipation and bloating. They can also help improve immune health by balancing the good bacteria in the gut.
Good bacteria help boost immune function, regulate appetite and weight, improve depression and reduce inflammation. Bad bacteria are bacteria that cause infections such as strep throat, staph and food poisoning.
Although preliminary, the research is promising because high blood pressure is a primary or contributing cause of approximately 700,000 deaths in the US, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
More than 50 percent of men have the condition, while 44 percent of women have it. Hypertension affects a total of 48 percent of adults in the US.
Hypertension is treated with medications called beta blockers, which block the effects of the hormone epinephrine, also known as adrenaline. They cause the heart to beat more slowly and less forcefully, causing blood pressure to drop.
Eating less salt, exercising more, limiting alcohol, not smoking and maintaining a healthy weight are also ways to lower blood pressure.
Additionally, the CDC estimates that one in five adults with high blood pressure are unaware they even have it, and only one in four report having the condition under control.
Adults over age 65 are more likely to have high blood pressure, and black Americans develop it at a higher rate than white Americans. Obesity, lack of exercise, a diet high in salt and sugar, and stress can all contribute to high blood pressure.
The research was published in the journal on Thursday mSystems.