What is it about?
This study explores how antihypertensive drugs, commonly used to lower blood pressure, influence the gut microbiota. Our research reveals that some drugs, like captopril and amlodipine, improve gut health by restoring the balance of gut bacteria and strengthening the gut barrier. These changes contribute to their ability to lower blood pressure and reduce inflammation. However, other drugs, like hydrochlorothiazide, do not show these beneficial effects on the gut microbiota. These findings highlight the important role of gut bacteria in blood pressure regulation and suggest new approaches to improve hypertension treatment by targeting the gut.
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Why is it important?
Our study highlights a novel connection between antihypertensive drugs and gut microbiota, emphasizing that specific medications not only reduce blood pressure but also reshape gut bacterial populations to improve gut health and inflammation. This is the first research to compare the distinct effects of captopril, amlodipine, and hydrochlorothiazide on gut microbiota and their subsequent impact on hypertension. The findings are timely as they provide insights into the gut-brain axis in blood pressure regulation, offering new opportunities for precision medicine approaches in hypertension by integrating gut microbiota modulation into treatment strategies.
Perspectives
Writing this article has been a deeply fulfilling experience, as it merges my long-standing interest in pharmacology and cardiovascular health with the emerging field of microbiota research. This publication represents a key milestone in the doctoral work of Cristina González-Correa, a talented predoctoral student whose thesis I have the privilege of supervising. Collaborating with such a multidisciplinary team has not only broadened my perspective but also highlighted the transformative potential of exploring the gut microbiota as a key factor in blood pressure regulation. I hope this work inspires further research and underscores the importance of personalized approaches in managing hypertension.
Dr Manuel Gómez-Guzmán
University of Granada
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Differing contributions of the gut microbiota to the blood pressure lowering effects induced by first‐line antihypertensive drugs, British Journal of Pharmacology, May 2024, Wiley,
DOI: 10.1111/bph.16410.
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Resources
Científicos de Granada descubren que medicamentos para la hipertensión fortalecen el sistema inmunológico
The resource cited is a news article published in November 2024 in the Granada Hoy newspaper, which summarizes the main findings of this article included in Kudos. The study, conducted by us, researchers at the Institute of Biosanitary Research of Granada (ibs.Granada), investigates the effects of commonly used antihypertensive medications on gut health and intestinal microbiota balance in hypertensive rats. The article highlights that captopril and amlodipine not only effectively lower blood pressure but also improve gut microbiota composition, reduce inflammation, and decrease oxidative stress in the brain. In contrast, hydrochlorothiazide, while lowering blood pressure, did not provide these additional benefits. These findings propose a novel, integrated approach for hypertension treatment that simultaneously targets cardiovascular regulation and intestinal health, potentially paving the way for therapies combining antihypertensive drugs with probiotics or microbiota modulators.
Article in DigiBug
This resource represents an open-access version of the article deposited in the institutional repository of the University of Granada, Digibug. Digibug is a digital repository designed to provide free and unrestricted access to the scientific, academic, and educational output of the university community. Its primary objective is to promote the dissemination of knowledge generated at the University while ensuring the long-term preservation and visibility of deposited documents. The article included in this resource has been published under an open-access license, allowing for consultation, download, and reuse in accordance with the terms specified by the license. This version complies with editorial policies and copyright regulations, ensuring equitable access to scientific content. Users are encouraged to properly cite this resource in their research and to access the full document through the permanent link available in Digibug.
Contributors
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