Heart disease is the biggest cause of death around the world. One of the main reasons is a condition called atherosclerosis.
This happens when fatty substances, known as plaques, build up inside the arteries. These plaques make it hard for blood to flow normally. Sometimes, a plaque can suddenly break, leading to a heart attack or stroke.
One common reason for this problem is called dyslipidemia. This means there are too many harmful fats in your blood, like cholesterol and triglycerides. Almost half of all adults have this issue, and it puts them at higher risk for heart disease.
Doctors usually give patients medicine to lower these blood fats. These drugs also help make the plaques in the arteries more stable so they are less likely to cause problems. But even with treatment, the plaques usually stay in the arteries and don’t go away completely.
Now, scientists have found something that could change that. Two new studies show that a simple mineral called manganese might help reduce plaques in the arteries.
Manganese is something the body needs in small amounts. It helps with bone health and supports some important processes inside our cells. But now, scientists think it might also help lower blood fats and clear out clogged arteries.
In the studies, researchers gave different doses of manganese to mice that had heart disease. They discovered that manganese helped lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Even more exciting, it also helped reduce the fatty plaques in the arteries of the mice.
To understand how this works, we need to look at how fat moves around in the body. Fat does not travel alone in the blood. It moves inside tiny carriers called lipoproteins. These lipoproteins use a system called COPII, which helps package and send fats to the right places in the body.
Manganese seems to change how the COPII system works. It binds to this system and causes a special reaction. When the right amount of manganese is present, fat levels in the blood go down. This means the right amount of this mineral could help protect the heart.
Dr. Xiao Wang, one of the lead scientists in the study, says he is hopeful about the findings. He believes that manganese might one day be used in new treatments for heart disease. But he also says this research is still in the early stages. More studies are needed to see if it works safely in people.
If this proves to be true, manganese could become a natural and affordable way to fight heart disease. That would be a big step forward, since heart disease affects so many people.
While we wait for more research, the best way to take care of your heart is to eat healthy food, stay active, and manage your cholesterol levels.
Other studies also suggest helpful tips. Some herbal products might affect heart rhythm. Eating eggs in moderation may actually lower your heart risk. Scientists are also studying how to prevent heart attacks and strokes in new ways. One study is even looking at a heart drug that might protect against COVID-19.
If you want to protect your heart, try adding healthy foods like oranges and black beans to your meals. These foods may help prevent obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. Some simple meal plans for people with diabetes can also be good for your heart.
This new research about manganese and heart health was published in the journal Life Metabolism.
If you care about heart health, please read studies about how eating eggs can help reduce heart disease risk, and Vitamin K2 could help reduce heart disease risk.
For more information about heart health, please see recent studies about how to remove plaques that cause heart attacks, and results showing a new way to prevent heart attacks, strokes.
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