Scientists have long been searching for better ways to fight heart disease, the leading cause of death worldwide. Every year, millions of people die from heart attacks, strokes, and other conditions linked to poor blood flow.
One of the main causes of these problems is a disease called atherosclerosis. This condition develops slowly over many years when fatty substances build up inside the arteries.
Arteries are the blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood from the heart to all parts of the body. When fatty deposits, often called plaque, collect inside these vessels, the arteries become narrower and harder. This makes it more difficult for blood to flow normally. If a plaque suddenly breaks apart, it can block blood flow and cause a heart attack or stroke.
A major factor behind atherosclerosis is dyslipidemia, a condition in which unhealthy fats build up in the blood. These fats include cholesterol and triglycerides.
Many people have high levels of these fats without knowing it because the condition often causes no symptoms. Doctors usually recommend healthy eating, exercise, weight control, and medications to lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease.
Although current medicines can help slow down plaque growth and make plaques less likely to break apart, they cannot completely remove the plaque that has already formed inside the arteries. For this reason, researchers continue to search for new treatments that might do more than simply slow the disease.
Now, two new studies have uncovered an unexpected possibility involving a mineral that many people already consume in small amounts through food. The mineral is manganese, which is needed by the body in tiny quantities to support normal health.
Manganese helps many important processes in the body. It supports the work of enzymes, contributes to bone health, and plays a role in several chemical reactions that keep the body functioning properly. Foods such as nuts, whole grains, leafy green vegetables, and tea naturally contain manganese.
In the new research, scientists discovered that manganese may have another important role. It appears to help control the way fats move through the body. Cholesterol and other fats cannot travel through the bloodstream on their own.
Instead, they are carried by tiny particles called lipoproteins. These particles act like delivery vehicles, transporting fats to different parts of the body.
To create and move these lipoproteins, cells use a transport system known as coat protein complex II, or COPII. This system helps package and move materials inside cells. The researchers found that manganese can interact with this transport system and influence how fats are packaged and released into the bloodstream.
When the scientists studied mice, they found that manganese changed the movement of fats in ways that lowered blood levels of cholesterol and triglycerides.
As these unhealthy fat levels decreased, the plaques inside the animals’ arteries also became smaller. This finding suggests that manganese may help the body reduce dangerous fatty buildup inside blood vessels.
The researchers also made an important discovery about dosage. Manganese did not produce stronger benefits simply because more of it was given. Instead, the mineral showed what researchers describe as a bell-shaped effect.
Very small amounts produced little benefit, while excessive amounts did not improve results further. The strongest effects appeared at specific levels.
This means that if manganese is ever developed into a treatment, finding the correct dose will be extremely important. Too little may not help, while too much may not provide additional benefits.
Dr. Xiao Wang, one of the lead researchers, said the findings could open the door to a completely new approach for preventing and treating heart disease. Because manganese is already found in foods and is relatively inexpensive, it could become a simple and affordable option if future studies confirm that it is safe and effective.
However, the researchers stress that the findings are still at an early stage. The current results were obtained in animal studies, and treatments that work in mice do not always work the same way in humans. More research and carefully designed clinical trials will be needed before doctors can recommend manganese-based therapies for patients.
Even so, the discovery offers a promising new direction in heart disease research. Scientists have spent decades trying to understand how plaque forms and how it might be removed. The possibility that a common mineral could help lower blood fats and reduce plaque buildup is exciting and may eventually lead to new treatment options.
For now, experts continue to recommend proven ways to protect heart health. Eating a balanced diet, staying physically active, maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding smoking, and keeping cholesterol levels under control remain some of the best ways to reduce the risk of heart disease.
The research was published in the journal Life Metabolism. While much work remains before these findings can be applied to people, the studies provide new hope that future treatments may one day do more than slow artery disease. They may actually help reverse some of the damage that has already occurred.
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.
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