Effects of probiotic therapy on cardio-metabolic parameters and autonomic modulation in hypertensive women: a randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled trial
Larissa de Fátima Romão da Silva, Yohanna de Oliveira, Evandro Leite de Souza, Micaelle Oliveira de Luna Freire, Valdir A. Braga, Marciane Magnani, José Luiz de Brito Alves
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: We assessed the effects of probiotic therapy for 8 weeks on cardiometabolic variables and autonomic function in women medically diagnosed with arterial hypertension. METHODS AND RESULTS: Forty women with arterial hypertension, 20-50 years, were assigned to two groups in this randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Patients in the probiotic group received a daily sachet containing Lactobacillus para casei LPC-37, Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001, Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM, and Bifidobacterium lactis HN019 (109 CFU of each strain) for 8 weeks. Patients in the placebo group received identical sachets with polydextrose (1 g day-1, for 8 weeks). Anthropometric, BP, electrocardiogram, biochemical measurements, fecal microbiota composition, and glucose hydrogen breath test were assessed at baseline and after 8 weeks intervention. Anthropometric variables (weight, BMI, and waist circumference) were similar between the two groups (p > 0.05). Probiotic supplementation significantly reduced fasting glucose (change -10.3 mg dL-1, p < 0.05) and cholesterol levels (change -23.6 mg dL-1, p < 0.05), and increased the HDL-cholesterol (change 6.5 mg dL-1, p < 0.05) compared with the baseline condition. Probiotic supplementation lowered, although without statistical significance, systolic BP by about 5 mmHg and diastolic BP by about 2 mmHg in hypertensive women. Lastly, probiotic administration reduced the low frequency (LF) oscillation and LF/high frequency (HF) ratio (p < 0.05) in the frequency domain of heart rate variability, suggesting an improvement in autonomic modulation. CONCLUSION: Probiotic therapy for 8 weeks reduced fasting glucose levels, and improved the lipid profile and autonomic modulation in hypertensive women.