Heart disease is still the top cause of death around the world. Many people die from it every year, and it affects millions of families. One major reason for heart disease is a problem called atherosclerosis.
This happens when fatty substances, known as plaques, build up inside our arteries. These plaques can become dangerous over time. If they break open, they can block blood flow, which can lead to a heart attack or a stroke.
A big risk factor for this condition is called dyslipidemia. This means having too much fat in the blood, including cholesterol and triglycerides. These unhealthy fats can make plaques grow faster. Almost half of all adults have this problem, which puts them at higher risk for heart disease.
Doctors usually use medicines to reduce blood fat levels and to make plaques more stable. However, these drugs cannot remove the plaques that are already there. But now, two new studies have discovered something interesting. A tiny mineral called manganese might help remove plaque from the arteries.
Manganese is a natural nutrient that our bodies need in very small amounts. It helps keep our bones strong and supports enzymes that help our cells work properly.
Scientists have now found that manganese may also lower the levels of fat in the blood and possibly help clean out the plaques from the arteries. This effect was seen even when people simply ate foods rich in manganese.
This finding surprised scientists. Manganese seems to change the way fats are carried in the blood. In our bodies, fats like cholesterol and triglycerides are moved by small particles called lipoproteins. These lipoproteins use a system called COPII to package and transport fats throughout the body.
When manganese connects with the COPII system, it causes a change in how fats are moved. At the right amount, this change leads to a big drop in cholesterol and triglycerides. In studies done with lab mice that had heart disease, the result was a big drop in artery plaque.
Dr. Xiao Wang, who led the study, said that this new discovery is exciting. He believes that using manganese as a treatment might help people prevent or even treat heart disease. But he also warned that more research is needed.
Scientists still need to find out if it is safe for people to take higher levels of manganese and if it works the same way in humans as it does in mice.
Still, this research gives hope. If manganese proves to be safe, it could be a cheap and easy way to help people lower fat in their blood and reduce the dangerous plaques in their arteries.
While we wait for more studies, people can still take good care of their hearts by eating healthy foods, staying active, and keeping their cholesterol levels in a healthy range.
Other research shows that eating eggs in moderation might reduce the risk of heart disease. Some herbal supplements may affect heart rhythm, so people should be careful. New medicines are also being tested that could lower the chances of having a heart attack or stroke. Some of these drugs might even protect people from heart problems related to COVID-19.
If you want to protect your heart, look for helpful studies about heart-friendly foods, like oranges or black beans, and check out simple meal plans that support heart and diabetes health.
If you care about heart health, please read studies about how eating eggs can help reduce heart disease risk, and herbal supplements could harm your heart rhythm.
For more health information, please see recent studies about how drinking milk affects risks of heart disease and cancer, and results showing strawberries could help prevent Alzheimer’s disease.
This manganese study was published in the journal Life Metabolism.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
