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, Bone Marrow Transplantation, May 2024, Wiley,
DOI: 10.1111/bph.16410.
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