Heart disease remains the number one cause of death worldwide. A major reason for this is a condition called atherosclerosis.
This condition happens when fatty substances, known as plaques, build up inside the walls of arteries. These plaques can eventually break open, leading to dangerous events like heart attacks or strokes.
One of the biggest risk factors for this is a problem called dyslipidemia. This means a person has too much unhealthy fat in their blood, such as cholesterol and triglycerides. Nearly half of all adults have this problem, which makes them more likely to develop heart disease.
Doctors usually treat this condition by giving medicines that help lower the levels of fats in the blood and make the plaques more stable. But these medicines cannot remove the plaques that are already there. That’s why a new discovery has excited scientists.
Recent research has found that a small mineral called manganese might be able to help clean out plaques in the arteries. Manganese is a nutrient that our bodies need in very small amounts. It helps build strong bones and helps enzymes do important tasks inside our cells.
But these new studies show that manganese may do more than we thought. When given in slightly larger amounts—even just through diet—it might reduce blood fat levels and help remove plaques in the arteries.
This was a surprise to researchers. Here’s how it works. Fats in the blood, like cholesterol, are moved around by small particles called lipoproteins. These lipoproteins use a system in the body called COPII to carry fats to different places.
When manganese connects to the COPII system, it changes how the fats are carried. This creates a special effect called a “bell-shaped curve.” This means that with just the right amount, manganese can lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels a lot.
In studies with lab mice that had heart disease, manganese reduced artery plaque buildup by a large amount. The scientist who led the study, Dr. Xiao Wang, said this finding is very promising. He believes that one day, manganese-based treatments could help prevent or even treat heart disease.
However, it’s still early. More studies are needed to make sure it is safe and works well in humans. But if proven effective, using manganese could be an easy and low-cost way to protect the heart.
Until more is known, the best way to protect your heart is to eat healthy, stay active, and keep your cholesterol at a healthy level. Some other studies have found that eating eggs in moderation might lower heart disease risk.
Some herbal supplements may affect heart rhythm. New drugs are also being studied to reduce the chances of heart attacks, strokes, and even risks related to COVID-19.
If you want to keep your heart strong, you can learn more about healthy foods that support heart health. For example, oranges might help with weight control, diabetes, and heart health. There are also simple guides like a 7-day meal plan for people with diabetes, and research showing that black beans are a good food to eat regularly.
Other studies have shown that apple juice may help the heart, and that yogurt might lower the risk of dying from heart disease.
If you care about heart disease, please read studies that herbal supplements could harm your heart rhythm, and how eating eggs can help reduce heart disease risk.
For more health information, please see recent studies that apple juice could benefit your heart health, and results showing yogurt may help lower the death risks in heart disease.
This new manganese research was published in the journal Life Metabolism.
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