High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a health problem that can cause death.
Despite medical and lifestyle treatment, most people with high blood pressure still have uncontrolled blood pressure.
Scientists have discovered that gut bacteria and the things they make can help regulate blood pressure.
When gut bacteria digest fermentable fiber, it releases short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) like acetate and butyrate, which can lower blood pressure.
Researchers at Monash University tested a new treatment using acetylated and butyrylated high amylose maize (HAMSAB), a type of fermentable fiber that produces large amounts of SCFAs.
They gave HAMSAB to 20 people with untreated high blood pressure for three weeks and found that their blood pressure decreased by 6.1 mmHg, equivalent to one blood pressure-lowering drug.
The researchers found that the levels of acetate and butyrate in the blood were much higher after the three-week HAMSAB treatment.
This suggests that HAMSAB can produce high levels of SCFAs, which can lower blood pressure.
This discovery shows that acetate and butyrate, two things made by gut bacteria, can lower blood pressure.
Therefore, fermentable fibers like HAMSAB may help improve gut bacteria and lower the risks of high blood pressure and heart disease worldwide.
This study was published in the journal Nature Cardiovascular Research by Associate Professor Francine Marques and colleagues.
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a medical condition where the force of blood against the walls of arteries is consistently too high.
Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg) and is expressed in two numbers, systolic and diastolic. A normal blood pressure reading is considered to be less than 120/80 mmHg.
When blood pressure is consistently above this range, it can damage blood vessels and organs, leading to serious health problems such as heart attack, stroke, and kidney failure.
High blood pressure often has no symptoms, which is why it is sometimes called the “silent killer”.
It is important to have regular blood pressure checks and to follow your doctor’s recommendations for management if you have hypertension.
If you care about blood pressure health, please see recent studies about plant nutrient that could help reduce high blood pressure, and how tea and coffee influence your risk of high blood pressure.
For more information about high blood pressure, please read studies about a key contributor to high blood pressure, and your age may determine which blood pressure number matters most.
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