Heart disease remains the leading cause of death around the world. One of the biggest reasons is a condition called atherosclerosis, which develops when fatty deposits, known as plaques, build up inside the arteries.
Over time, these plaques can narrow the blood vessels or suddenly break apart, causing a heart attack or stroke.
A major cause of atherosclerosis is dyslipidemia, a condition in which there are unhealthy levels of fats in the blood, including cholesterol and triglycerides. Nearly half of adults have this problem. Doctors usually recommend healthy lifestyle changes together with medicines that lower blood fat levels to reduce the risk of serious heart disease.
Current medicines can slow the growth of artery plaques and make them less likely to rupture, but they usually cannot remove the plaques completely. Researchers are therefore searching for new ways to protect the heart and even reverse damage that has already developed. Two new studies suggest that manganese, a mineral the body needs in small amounts, could become part of that effort.
Manganese is already known for helping the body build strong bones and supporting many important enzymes. Scientists have now discovered that it may also play a role in controlling how fats move through the body. If confirmed, this could make manganese useful in treating heart disease in the future.
In the new research, scientists gave different doses of manganese to mice with cardiovascular disease. The mice showed lower levels of cholesterol and triglycerides after treatment. The researchers also found that plaque buildup inside the animals’ arteries became smaller, suggesting that manganese may help clear blocked blood vessels.
To understand why this happened, the scientists studied how fats travel through the body. Cholesterol and other fats are carried in tiny particles called lipoproteins. These particles rely on a transport system known as COPII, which helps move materials between cells.
The researchers discovered that manganese can interact with the COPII system and change the way it works. At the right dose, manganese appeared to improve the movement of fats in a way that lowered their levels in the blood. The effect was strongest within a certain dose range, showing that the amount of manganese is important.
Lead researcher Dr. Xiao Wang said the findings offer hope that manganese-based treatments could one day help prevent or treat heart disease. However, the work is still in its early stages. Because the experiments were carried out in mice, scientists must now study whether the same benefits and safety apply to people.
Experts also caution that people should not start taking manganese supplements in large amounts based on these findings alone. Too much manganese can be harmful, and the safest dose for heart health has not yet been established. Anyone considering supplements should first speak with their healthcare provider.
For now, the best way to protect your heart is still to follow proven advice. Eating a healthy diet, staying physically active, avoiding smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, and controlling blood pressure and cholesterol remain the most effective ways to reduce the risk of heart disease.
The new research, published in the journal Life Metabolism, provides an exciting new direction that could eventually lead to better treatments.
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