A team from City University of Hong Kong reported that administering intestinal probiotics to mice with experimentally induced hypertension helped normalize their blood pressure. The findings appear in the journal mSystems.
Hypertension affects about 40 percent of adults globally and raises the risk of stroke and heart attack. Recent work suggests that gut-targeted probiotics may play a role in improving blood pressure control.
In the study, scientists induced a sustained rise in blood pressure in mice by providing a fructose-enriched drinking solution for several weeks. Some animals also received a probiotic blend containing Bifidobacterium lactis and Lactobacillus rhamnosus. Mice that received both interventions showed a significant drop in blood pressure, approaching levels seen in healthy mice on a standard diet.
The team found that probiotic treatment helped restore a balanced gut microbiome disrupted by the high-fructose diet. Researchers are planning a larger clinical trial to determine whether this protective effect translates to people with hypertension.
Earlier investigations have explored links between gut bacteria and neurological conditions, including schizophrenia, highlighting the broader impact of the gut microbiome on health.