An important part of maintaining a healthy heart may rely on what you eat. Specifically, probiotics are living microorganisms that live in foods, such as yogurt. Prebiotics are a type of fiber that can feed the microbes that live in your stomach and intestinal tract. These substances hold great promise for reducing the risk of disease and maintaining health, including the health of your heart.
The human gut is home to trillions of microorganisms and microbes that play a vital role in digesting food and processing vitamins. But scientists have discovered that this collection of microbes, known as the gut microbiome, influences your overall health throughout your body. There is strong evidence of an important connection between your gut microbes and your brain, with bidirectional signaling seen between these two systems.
Growing evidence suggests a similar relationship between the gut and the heart. More research is needed to determine the nature of this relationship. It remains unclear whether gut microbes influence heart health directly or how they are related.
How the Gut Microbiome Influences Heart Health
A recent study on probiotics and lowered blood pressure found a potential link between the gut and the heart. In one study, probiotic strains, specifically Bifidobacterium lactis and Lactobacillus rhamnosus, were found to help reduce blood pressure. These probiotic strains can be found in yogurts and cheeses.
While it is unclear whether adding Bifidobacterium lactis and Lactobacillus rhamnosus would be helpful or harmful, it is best to consult with your healthcare provider before making any major dietary changes.
Increasing Focus on Probiotics and Prebiotics in Cardiovascular Research
As gene sequencing becomes more practical and cheaper, the trillions of microbes in the gut microbiome are an exciting area of research for many scientists. Studies have shown that changes to the gut microbiome can influence conditions throughout the body, including cardiovascular diseases.
Imbalances in the gut microbiome have been seen in people with heart failure, thrombosis, and arterial hypertension. Probiotics and prebiotics are viewed as having the potential to help mitigate the risk of various types of cardiovascular conditions. Scientists hope that probiotics and prebiotics could help reduce inflammation, which helps both the immune system and heart health. These substances are thought to have an influence on parts of the immune system, including lymphocytes, T cells and B cells.
The Role of Akkermansia in Heart Health
Among the targets being looked to use probiotics to alter health outcomes is Akkermansia, which lives in the mucus layer of the intestine. One of Akkermansia’s roles is to break down mucin, which is a sugary protein. Finding the right amount of this bacteria in the gut could help manipulate cholesterol levels.
Next-Generation Probiotics and Personalized Medicine
The challenge with Akkermansia is that researchers need to learn how to alter it in order to make it more optimal as a treatment option. Researchers are hopeful that probiotics could be an important tool in personalized medicine in the future. Next-generation probiotics show intriguing possibilities beyond being eaten. They could play a role in manipulating synthetic biology and the targeted editing of genes.
Promises and Limitations of Probiotics for Heart Health
There remains a lot to understand about probiotics and prebiotics and their relationship to heart health. Probiotic bacteria are known to interact with intestinal immune cells and influence some functions. However, more studies are needed to see how these interactions influence overall health outcomes.
Foods Rich in Probiotics and Prebiotics
Eating foods that contain probiotics and prebiotics is a simple step you can take to help with your overall health. Foods with beneficial probiotics include yogurt and kefir; cottage cheese; miso soup; kombucha; sauerkraut or kimchi; and pickles and pickle juice. Almonds, bananas, and whole-wheat foods are among the sources for adding more prebiotics to your diet.
Probiotic Supplements: Benefits and Considerations
In terms of probiotics, there is a growing consumer market offering supplements in the form of pills. If you are considering taking specific supplements, be sure to consult with your healthcare provider to learn of potential side effects.Keep up with the latest news on emerging heart health by visiting the Nora Eccles Harrison Cardiovascular Research and Training Institute (CVRTI) website.
