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Can Taking Probiotics Prevent Heart Disease? Kefir, yogurt, kimchi and some fermented foods contain probiotics, which are live microbes, such as yeast and bacteria, that can be consumed and have been shown to promote health. Many supplements available in health food stores also contain probiotics. While there are many strains of microbes included in probiotic products, the most commonly included microbes are those from the Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria species. Thus far, studies have shown that probiotics have many health benefits, including alleviating diarrhea caused by certain infections, improving immune health, and reducing symptoms associated with inflammatory bowel diseases. Research also indicated that taking probiotics regularly may help lower blood pressure, cholesterol and keep the lipid levels healthy. High blood pressure, high cholesterol and high blood triglycerides are all risk factors for heart disease. Good management of these risk factors can reduce the risk of heart disease. One study of 36 smokers (18 women and 18 men) found that taking Lactobacilli plantarum for 6 weeks could significantly lower blood pressure. The paper was published in December 2002 in ‘American Journal of Clinical Nutrition’. A review that analysed results of other studies, including 702 people in total, reported that probiotic fermented milk also significantly reduced blood pressure in people with high blood pressure. The findings were published October 2013 in ‘British Journal of Nutrition’.
Again, in October 2014, a paper published in
Journal ‘Hypertension’ suggested that there is a reduction in blood pressure,
especially when blood pressure was high originally, when multiple types of
probiotics were taken at the same time, when the probiotics were taken for more
than 8 weeks, and when the dose was high.
Meanwhile, several large studies have shown that certain probiotics may be able to lower blood cholesterol, particularly in people with high cholesterol levels. A review of 15 studies published June 8, 2017 in Journal ‘PLoS One’ indicated that Lactobacillus probiotics, especially Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus reuteri, could significantly reduce both total cholesterol and bad LDL cholesterol levels. Latest study is a larger meta-analysis that combine the results of 32 other studies and was published February 2018 in Journal ‘Medicine (Baltimore)’. The researchers revealed that Lactobacillus plantarum, VSL#3, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium lactis were particularly effective. The findings also showed that probiotics were more effective when taken by people with higher cholesterol, when taken for a longer period of time and when taken in capsule form. Scientists have proposed that Lactobacillus bacteria alone may impact cholesterol levels in several ways. According to a study published June 17, 2010 in the ‘International Journal of Molecular Sciences’, probiotics can bind with cholesterol in the intestines to stop it from being absorbed. They can also help produce certain bile acids that help metabolize fat and cholesterol in the body. Certain probiotics can also produce short-chain fatty acids that are compounds that can help prevent cholesterol from being formed by the liver. Probiotics may also help reduce blood triglycerides, the types of fat that can contribute to heart disease. A study of 92 people who had high blood triglycerides found that taking 2 probiotics, Lactobacillus curvatus and Lactobacillus plantarum, for 12 weeks significantly reduced blood triglycerides. The findings were published August 2015 in Journal ‘Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases’. Nevertheless, there were studies that denied the beneficial health effects of probiotics, too. For instance, a separate study of 156 people with high blood pressure found that 2 types of probiotics, Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria, had no beneficial effect on blood pressure when given in capsules or yogurt. The study was published January 2015 in Journal ‘Journal Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases’.
It is obvious that more research should be carried
out to ascertain the amount and type of probiotic culture to take. Due to their
possible health benefits and some of the other nutrients these foods may
contain, people who are struggling with cholesterol-related health problems or
are on a weight loss program that is not working for them, may consider meeting
with their doctors to consider adding a high-quality probiotic to lessen risk
factors for cardiovascular disease.
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