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Antihypertensive Effects of Probiotics

  • Gut Microbiome, Sympathetic Nervous System, and Hypertension (MK Raizada and EM Richards, Section Editors)
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

The present review focuses in the hypertension-associated changes in the microbiota and the current insights regarding the impact of probiotics on blood pressure in animal models and in human hypertensive patients.

Recent Findings

Gut dysbiosis in hypertension is characterized by (i) the gut microbioma that is less diverse and less rich with an increased Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio and (ii) a decrease in acetate- and butyrate-producing bacteria and an increase in lactate-producing bacterial populations. The meta-analysis of the human studies supports that supplementation with probiotics reduces blood pressure. The mechanism of this antihypertensive effect of probiotics and its protective effect on endothelial function has not been fully elucidated.

Summary

Further investigations are needed to clarify if the effects of probiotic bacteria result from the changes in the gut microbiota and its metabolic by-products; the restoration of the gut barrier function; and the effects on endotoxemia, inflammation, and renal sympathetic nerve activity.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by Grants from Comisión Interministerial de Ciencia y Tecnología, Ministerio de Economía y competitividad (SAF2014-55523-R); Junta de Andalucía (Proyecto de excelencia P12-CTS-2722 and CTS 164) with funds from the European Union; and by the Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (RIC, RD12/0042/0011, CIBER-Enfermedades Cardiovasculares), Spain. M.S. is a postdoctoral fellow of Junta de Andalucía, and M.R. is a postdoctoral fellow of University of Granada.

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Correspondence to Juan Duarte.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Gut Microbiome, Sympathetic Nervous System, and Hypertension

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Robles-Vera, I., Toral, M., Romero, M. et al. Antihypertensive Effects of Probiotics. Curr Hypertens Rep 19, 26 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11906-017-0723-4

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