Heart disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide, with atherosclerosis—a condition where fatty plaques build up in arteries—playing a major role. These plaques can break open, leading to heart attacks and strokes.
One of the main risk factors for atherosclerosis is dyslipidemia, a condition where there are too many “bad” fats, like cholesterol and triglycerides, in the blood.
Nearly half of adults have dyslipidemia, increasing their risk of heart disease.
Current medications help lower blood fat levels and stabilize plaques, but they do not remove the plaques entirely. However, two new studies have discovered a potential breakthrough—a way to reverse plaque buildup using an unexpected mineral: manganese.
Manganese is a trace mineral that the body needs in small amounts for enzyme function and bone development.
But researchers have now found that manganese can also lower blood fat levels and clear artery plaques when given in increasing doses, even through diet.
This discovery is surprising because manganese directly affects how fats move in the blood. Fats, including cholesterol and triglycerides, are carried through the bloodstream by lipoproteins—tiny transport structures.
These lipoproteins rely on a system called coat protein complex II (COPII) to package and move fats through the body.
Manganese binds to the COPII complex, changing how it works. This causes a unique “bell-shaped” effect on blood fat levels, meaning that at the right dose, manganese reduces cholesterol and triglycerides significantly. As a result, it helps to clear artery plaques in mice with cardiovascular disease.
Dr. Xiao Wang, one of the lead researchers, expressed excitement about this breakthrough. He believes manganese-based therapy could become a powerful tool for preventing and treating heart disease.
However, more research is needed to test its safety and effectiveness in humans before it can be used as a treatment.
This discovery opens up new possibilities for fighting heart disease. If manganese proves safe and effective in humans, it could offer a natural, low-cost way to reduce blood fat levels and clear dangerous plaques.
Since heart disease remains a major global health issue, this research could change the way we approach treatment and prevention. While waiting for further studies, people can still protect their heart health by maintaining a healthy diet, exercising, and managing cholesterol levels.
For those interested in heart disease prevention, other studies suggest that certain herbal supplements may affect heart rhythm, while eating eggs in moderation may reduce heart disease risk. There is also research on new ways to prevent heart attacks and strokes and a potential heart disease drug that may lower COVID-19 risk.
If you care about heart health, please read studies about top foods to love for a stronger heart, and why oranges may help fight obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
For more health information, please see recent studies about simple guide to a 7-day diabetes meal plan, and why you should add black beans to your plate.
These groundbreaking findings were published in Life Metabolism.
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