Posted on 10/21/2023 9:07:31 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
An estimated 40% of the global adult population have high blood pressure, or hypertension, which puts people at risk of cardiovascular disease and other dangerous health conditions. Recent studies suggest that probiotics may offer a protective effect.
A study adds two new strains to the list of potential antihypertensive probiotics.
In experiments on hypertensive mice, treatment with the two probiotics, Bifidobacterium lactis and Lactobacillus rhamnosus, returned blood pressure to normal levels.
Previous studies have connected the rising rates of hypertension worldwide to increasing consumption of sugar. It likely boosts blood pressure through many mechanisms—increased insulin resistance or salt retention, for example—but in recent years researchers have investigated sugar's effect on the gut microbiome, as well.
In the new study, the researchers tested the two probiotic strains on mice that developed high blood pressure after consuming water mixed with fructose. Over 16 weeks, they measured the animals' blood pressures every four weeks. They found that fructose-fed mice that received either probiotic showed significantly lower blood pressures than those fed a high fructose diet and not treated with probiotics.
In addition, the researchers found no difference between the blood pressure readings of fructose-fed mice that received probiotics and a control group of mice that only drank water. That suggests probiotic interventions would maintain blood pressure at normal levels, Li said.
The researchers found that a high-fructose diet in the mice led to an increase in Bacteroidetes and a decrease in Firmicutes bacteria; however, treatment with probiotics returned those populations to those found in the control group.
In addition, the analysis identified new microbial signatures associated with blood pressure: Increased levels of Lawsonia and Pyrolobus bacteria, and reduced levels of Alistipes and Alloprevotella, were associated with lower blood pressure.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
You can’t get enough probiotics from yogurt, you need more from supplements. There are many brands out there, some a bit pricey. Here’s one you’ll find in most local stores. I look for off brand and deals like BOGO when buying probiotics. You should also consume a pre-biotic fiber supplement for the probiotics to feed on. Benefiber and Metamucil work for that.
Went to Whole Groceries and picked up a bottle of Now, Probiotic Defense that has both of these probiotics listed on the label.
Been taking one capsule in the morning for 3 days and have seen a drop from the 180s/90s to 160s/80s. But that could just be from diet and exercise.
The study showed it took 16 weeks, but systolic and diastolic came down over 18% each, but it was with mice, and these changes were only done with each probiotic independent from the other. Combining them could accelerate the benefit, and it’s easy to find them together in products, such as kefir.
Have you noticed any further change?
I can say my blood pressure has come down, but I’m also getting a fair amount more of fiber, than before.
bkmk
It’s maintaining right now but I’m not eating because I’m eating down my freezer. When I take a break and eat right it gets down to around 140 over 80 which is my current goal.
When I go on the road it gets all out of wack. It’s really hard to find healthy food on the road.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.