Regular consumption of probiotics may help reduce high blood pressure and maintain healthy blood pressure levels, recent Australian research suggests.Multiple species of probiotics for both systolic and diastolic blood pressure lowered blood pressure more than single species. Additionally, subgroup analysis of trials with baseline blood pressure ≥130/85 mm Hg compared with <130/85 mm Hg found a more significant improvement in diastolic blood pressure.
The dosage that was associated with improved blood pressure was a daily bacteria volume of 109-10 12 colony-forming units (CFU).
Writing in the journal Hypertension, the researchers noted, however, that consuming probiotics for less than eight weeks did not lower systolic or diastolic blood pressure.
"We believe probiotics might help lower blood pressure by having other positive effects on health, including improving total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, cholesterol; reducing blood glucose and insulin resistance; and by helping to regulate the hormone system that regulates blood pressure and fluid balance," said Sun.
Evidence supports probiotics for hypertension
In recent years, a number of studies have examined the role that probiotics may be able to play in lowering blood pressure.
For example, a review published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences in 2009 illustrated the potential of probiotics in mediating hypertension via positive modulation of several different physiological systems.
“Probiotics have exhibited antihypertensive potential via the improvement of lipid profiles, insulin resistance, modulation of renin and the bioconversion of bioactive isoflavones,” the authors concluded.
“These positive findings suggested the potential use of dietary alternatives such as probiotics, to alleviate the occurrence of metabolic diseases via a less radical approach compared to drugs or hormone therapy, with milder, if not none, known side effects. Probiotics could also serve as a complementary supplement to enhance the well-being for those already suffering the diseases and taking drugs or hormonal therapy to medicate the condition,” they also noted.
More recently, a meta-analysis of fourteen randomised placebo-controlled trials involving 702 participants published in the British Journal of Nutrition in 2013 suggested that probiotic fermented milk has blood pressure-lowering effects in pre-hypertensive and hypertensive patients.
Which probiotics are best for blood pressure patients?
While evidence suggests that probiotics may favourably impact blood pressure, probiotic strains and consumption vary between studies.
In the most recent systematic review, the studies analysed used different strains and combinations of probiotics - for example, probiotics in yoghurt, fermented and sour milk and cheese, and supplements.
Experts agree that further clinical trials are needed to clarify the mechanisms, stability and safety before probiotics can be confidently recommended as an alternative antihypertensive treatment.
References
Khalesi S, Sun J, Buys N, Jayasinghe R. Effect of Probiotics on Blood Pressure: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized, Controlled Trials. Hypertension. 2014; published online before print July 21 2014, doi:10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.114.03469
Dong JY1, Szeto IM, Makinen K, Gao Q, Wang J, Qin LQ, Zhao Y. Effect of probiotic fermented milk on blood pressure: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Br J Nutr. 2013 Oct;110(7):1188-94.
Lye HS, Kuan CY, Ewe JA, Fung WY, Liong MT. The Improvement of Hypertension by Probiotics: Effects on Cholesterol, Diabetes, Renin, and Phytoestrogens. Int J Mol Sci. Sep 2009; 10(9): 3755–3775.
Source: www.blackmoresinstitute.org/login/news-and-insights/Probiotics-lower-blood-pressure, Friday 25 July 2014
