Probiotics May Help Lower Blood Pressure

Consumption of probiotics—the live cultures of bacteria found in yogurt—may help to improve blood pressure, according to new research.

In order to better clarify the effects of probiotic consumption on blood pressure, researchers from Griffith University in Australia conducted a meta-analysis of 9 trials (543 total participants) on the effects of probiotics.
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Sources of probiotic cultures included yogurt, fermented milk, cheese, probiotic drinks, and probiotic supplement capsules. Daily doses ranged from 10⁹ to 10¹² live units.

Participants taking probiotics saw an overall 3.56 mm Hg reduction in systolic and a 2.38 mm Hg reduction in diastolic blood pressure compared with controls.

Among participants with an elevated baseline blood pressure of at least 130/85 mm Hg, those taking multiple strains of probiotics and those taking higher doses (at least 10¹¹) of probiotics reported greater reductions.

"These findings suggest that probiotics may be used as a potential supplement for future interventions to prevent hypertension or improve blood pressure control," researchers concluded.

–Michael Potts

Khalesi S, Sun J, Buys N, Jayasinghe R. Effects of probiotics on blood pressure – a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized, controlled trials. Hypertension. 2014 July 21. [epub ahead of print] doi: 10.1161/​HYPERTENSIONAHA.114.03469