Heart disease is still the number one cause of death around the world. A major reason for this is a condition called atherosclerosis, which happens when fatty deposits slowly build up inside the arteries.
Arteries are blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the rest of the body. Over time, these fatty plaques can harden and narrow the arteries, making it harder for blood to flow. If a plaque breaks open, it can suddenly block blood flow and cause a heart attack or stroke.
One of the biggest risk factors for atherosclerosis is dyslipidemia, a condition in which there are too many unhealthy fats in the blood. These fats include cholesterol and triglycerides. Nearly half of adults have this problem, often without knowing it.
Doctors usually recommend lifestyle changes and medications to lower these fats and reduce the risk of heart disease. While current drugs can help slow plaque growth and make plaques more stable, they cannot completely remove the buildup that already exists in the arteries.
Now, two new studies have discovered a surprising possibility for reversing plaque buildup using a common mineral called manganese.
Manganese is a trace mineral, which means the body only needs a small amount of it. It plays an important role in helping enzymes work properly and in keeping bones healthy. Foods such as nuts, whole grains, leafy vegetables, and tea naturally contain manganese.
Researchers found that manganese may also help control how fats move through the bloodstream. Fats like cholesterol cannot travel in the blood on their own.
Instead, they are carried by tiny particles called lipoproteins, which act like delivery vehicles. These lipoproteins depend on a system inside cells that packages and transports fats throughout the body. This system is known as coat protein complex II, or COPII.
The scientists discovered that manganese can attach to this transport system and change how it works. When manganese interacts with COPII, it affects how fats are packaged and released into the bloodstream. At certain doses, manganese lowered cholesterol and triglyceride levels in mice.
As blood fat levels dropped, the fatty plaques in their arteries also became smaller. This suggests that manganese may help the body clear away dangerous buildup inside blood vessels.
The researchers also noticed that manganese does not work in a simple straight line. Instead, it has what scientists call a bell-shaped effect. This means that too little manganese does not help much, while too much may not provide extra benefit.
However, at the right amount, the mineral significantly improved blood fat levels and reduced plaque. This finding highlights the importance of the correct dosage if manganese is ever used as a treatment.
Dr. Xiao Wang, one of the lead researchers, said the discovery could lead to a new way to prevent and treat heart disease. Because manganese is already present in food and is relatively inexpensive, it could become a simple and affordable option if proven safe.
However, the scientists stress that more studies are needed to confirm whether this approach works in humans. What works in animals does not always work the same way in people, so careful testing is essential before any new therapy becomes available.
This research opens a new direction in the fight against heart disease, which continues to affect millions of families.
While scientists work on future treatments, people can still protect their hearts by eating a balanced diet, staying physically active, maintaining a healthy weight, and monitoring cholesterol levels. Small daily habits can make a big difference in long-term heart health.
The findings were published in the journal Life Metabolism and offer hope that one day doctors may be able not only to slow artery disease but also to reverse it.
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