Benefit of Probiotics: Heart Attack Protection?

Evidence of the health benefits of probiotics seems to be piling up, though questions remain about how exactly these beneficial bacteria work, and how to take them.

The latest study of probiotics' benefits found that a particular probiotic strain reduced the severity of heart attacks in rats, and improved their recoveries. The rats were fed the probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum 299v, which is known to suppress levels of the hormone leptin (they fed the rats the Goodbelly brand juice, which contains Lactobacillus plantarum 299v). High levels of leptin have been linked with cardiovascular disease.

When the researchers treated some of the rats with leptin before their heart attacks, the protective powers of the probiotic were erased, indicating that it's the probiotic's leptin-suppressing quality that benefits the heart. The study was published in The FASEB Journal.

What does this mean for us? While this study certainly isn't an assurance that probiotics will protect your heart, it's definitely another sign that taking probiotics, whether as a supplement or in probiotic-packed foods, is a good idea for most people. It's exciting to imagine that in the future many of our health issues might be treated not with systemic, side effect-laden drugs, but by introducing specific beneficial bacteria into our bellies.

More about the benefits of probiotics:

Why I'm Hooked on Probiotics

How Antibiotics Might Make You Fat

Probiotics Might Benefit Stressed-Out People