{"id":86595,"date":"2019-11-22T20:01:49","date_gmt":"2019-11-23T04:01:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/selfhacked.com\/?p=86595"},"modified":"2021-09-20T09:21:19","modified_gmt":"2021-09-20T16:21:19","slug":"probiotics-cardiovascular-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/selfhacked.com\/blog\/probiotics-cardiovascular-health\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Probiotics Improve Cardiovascular Health?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Some probiotics may produce beneficial changes to blood pressure and cholesterol, ultimately improving heart health. Which strains are the best, and what specific changes can they make? Read on to learn more.<\/p>\n

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Probiotics & the Heart<\/span><\/h2>\n

High cholesterol and blood pressure are among the most important risk factors for cardiovascular disease, and certain probiotics have produced beneficial changes to both in clinical trials. In this post, we’ll explore the potential effect of probiotic supplements on cardiovascular disease.<\/p>\n

Remember that probiotics may not be for everyone, and they should never be used in place of something your doctor recommends. Talk to your doctor to determine whether probiotic supplements could be right for you.<\/p>\n

Possibly Effective For<\/span><\/h3>\n

1) Cardiovascular Disease<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

According to some researchers, probiotics and prebiotics may help prevent and reduce the severity of cardiovascular disease due to a reduction in total serum cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL-cholesterol), and inflammation (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Daily supplementation with S. boulardii<\/i><\/a> lowered remnant lipoprotein in hypercholesterolemic adults<\/b>, a predictive biomarker and potential therapeutic target in the treatment and prevention of coronary artery disease (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n

In a human trial, L. casei<\/i> improved insulin sensitivity<\/a>, an important risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity, especially stroke and coronary heart disease and mortality (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n

L. acidophilus<\/i> consumption led to a 2.4% to 3.2% reduction in blood cholesterol<\/b> in clinical studies. Since every 1% reduction in serum cholesterol concentration is associated with an estimated 2% to 3% reduction in risk for coronary heart disease, some researchers believe that regular intake of L. acidophilus<\/i> has the potential to reduce the risk for coronary heart disease by 6 to 10%<\/b> (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n

L. acidophilus<\/i> may protect against atherosclerosis<\/b> through the inhibition of intestinal cholesterol absorption in mice fed a Western diet (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Lipoteichoic acid (LTA) from L. plantarum<\/i> inhibited the production of proinflammatory cytokines and suppressed atherosclerotic plaque inflammation<\/b> in mice (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n

L. acidophilus<\/i> reduced cholesterol and inhibited the accumulation of lipoprotein in atherosclerotic plaques<\/b> in mice (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n

L. acidophilus<\/i> attenuated the development of atherosclerotic lesions in mice, possibly by reducing oxidative stress<\/a> and inflammatory responses (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Probiotics, especially Lactobacillus<\/em>, reduced markers of cardiovascular disease like cholesterol and atherosclerotic development in animals and humans.<\/div><\/div>\n

2) Bad Cholesterol<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

Daily consumption of yogurt containing L. acidophilus<\/i> after each dinner contributes to a significant reduction in cholesterol (R<\/a>). However, in another study of men and women with normal to borderline high cholesterol, L. acidophilus<\/i> did not lower blood cholesterol (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n

A synbiotic product containing L. gasseri<\/i> and inulin reduced total blood cholesterol,<\/b> low-density lipoprotein<\/b><\/a> (LDL)-cholesterol and triglycerides<\/b> in hypercholesterolemic men and women (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Buffalo milk yogurt and soymilk yogurt with B. longum<\/i> decreased total cholesterol by 50%, LDL- cholesterol by 56%, and triglycerides by 51% (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n

In one study, L. reuteri<\/i><\/b> reduced LDL cholesterol<\/b> by 11.64%, reduced total cholesterol<\/b> by 9.14%, non-HDL-cholesterol by 11.30% and apoB<\/b><\/a>-100<\/b> by 8.41% (R<\/a>). In another study, L. reuteri<\/i> reduced LDL by 8.92%<\/b> and total cholesterol by 4.81%<\/b> (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n

6-week supplementation of L. salivarius<\/i> along with fructooligosaccharide (FOS) significantly reduced total cholesterol<\/b>, \u201cbad\u201d (LDL) cholesterol, and triglycerides (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n

B. longum<\/i> reduced total cholesterol<\/b>, particularly among subjects with moderate hypercholesterolemia (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n

L. fermentum<\/i> modestly improved cholesterol levels in a clinical study (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n

A synbiotic containing B. coagulans <\/i>reduced TAG and<\/b> VLDL<\/b><\/a> in pregnant women (R<\/a>), and reduced total blood cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol <\/b>in a small clinical trial (R<\/a>, R<\/a>).<\/p>\n

In another study, a combination of bacteria strains more effectively reduced total cholesterol and liver cholesterol compared to individual bacteria strains (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n

B. animalis<\/i>, B. bifidum,<\/i> and B. longum<\/i> reduced total cholesterol and LDL-C in children with primary dyslipidemia (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Milk fermented with L. acidophilus<\/i> and B. longum<\/i> significantly reduced LDL cholesterol in hypercholesterolemic women (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n

In overweight subjects, the administration of capsules with Bifidobacteria, Lactobacilli, and S. thermophilus<\/i> significantly improved lipid profiles, reducing total cholesterol (TC), triacylglycerols (TAG), and LDL-C levels (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Lactobacillus <\/em>and Bifidobacterium<\/em> probiotics strongly reduced LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and total cholesterol in multiple clinical trials of children and adults.<\/div><\/div>\n

3) Good Cholesterol<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

According to some researchers, probiotics may increase high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol<\/b> (HDL-C) (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n

In T2DM patients, L. acidophilus<\/i> and B. animalis<\/i> increased good cholesterol<\/b> (HDL-C) levels (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n

A synbiotic containing L. acidophilus<\/i>, L. casei<\/i>, B. bifidum,<\/i> and inulin increased HDL-cholesterol in diabetic subjects (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n

A synbiotic shake containing L. acidophilus<\/i>, B. bifidum<\/i> and fructo-oligosaccharides significantly increased HDL-C in elderly people with diabetes (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n

6-week supplementation of L. salivarius<\/i> along with fructooligosaccharide (FOS) significantly increased \u201cgood\u201d (HDL) cholesterol in healthy young volunteers (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n

In overweight subjects, Bifidobacteria, Lactobacilli, and S. thermophilus<\/i> significantly improved HDL-C (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n

B. coagulans<\/i> increased good cholesterol in diabetic patients (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n

L. plantarum <\/i>increased \u201cgood\u201d (HDL) cholesterol in mice (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n

B. bifidum<\/i> increased HDL in diabetic rats (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n

In addition to decreasing bad LDL cholesterol, probiotics increased good HDL cholesterol in healthy people and in patients with diabetes.<\/div><\/div>\n

4) Blood Pressure<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

L. helveticus<\/i> produces angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitory peptides<\/b> that could potentially prevent or control high blood pressure (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n

L. helveticus<\/i> fermented milk lowered blood pressure in hypertensive subjects (R<\/a>, R<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Daily ingestion of the tablets containing powdered fermented milk with L. helveticus<\/i> in subjects with high-normal blood pressure or mild hypertension reduced elevated blood pressure<\/b> without any adverse effects (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Long-term treatment with L. helveticus<\/i>-fermented milk reduced arterial stiffness<\/b> in hypertensive subjects (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n

L. plantarum<\/i> reduced blood pressure in Russian adults with obesity<\/a> (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n

L. faecium<\/i> and S. thermophilus<\/i> reduced systolic blood pressure <\/b>in overweight and obese subjects (R<\/a>).<\/p>\n

L. plantarum<\/i> (R<\/a>, R<\/a>), L. johnsonii<\/i> (R<\/a>) and L. lactis<\/i> (R<\/a>, R<\/a>) acted as a blood pressure-lowering agent in rats.<\/p>\n

Certain probiotics and fermented products reduced blood pressure in people with mild hypertension and high-normal blood pressure. L. helveticus<\/em> in particular produces ACE-inhibitory peptides that could explain this effect.<\/div><\/div>\n
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Takeaway<\/span><\/h3>\n

Probiotic bacteria, and especially Lactobacillus <\/em>and Bifidobacterium<\/em> species, have produced positive changes to cardiovascular health in clinical trials. In particular, these probiotics reduced LDL cholesterol, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood pressure and increased HDL cholesterol. In animals, they also prevented atherosclerotic buildup.<\/div><\/div>\n

Further Reading<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

We\u2019ve compiled deep dives into each potential benefit of probiotics. Check them out here:<\/p>\n