For decades, high blood pressure has been explained mainly through salt intake, obesity, stress, and family history. While these remain important, emerging research highlights another key player—our gut. The trillions of microbes in the digestive tract are not passive residents; they actively influence blood vessel function, kidney activity, and inflammation, all of which directly affect blood pressure.
India Today spoke with Dr. Hardik Ahuja, Consultant, Gastroenterologist, Kailash Hospital, who explained why gut health is an often-overlooked piece of the heart health puzzle.
“What was once a curiosity has now become a convincing scientific story,” says Dr. Ahuja. “Studies show that an altered gut microbiome is consistently linked to higher blood pressure, and animal experiments confirm that changing the microbiome can directly raise or lower blood pressure.”
Certain gut-derived molecules actually support heart wellness. “Short-chain fatty acids, produced when fibre is broken down in the colon, help relax blood vessels, regulate immunity, and support kidney function,” explains Dr. Ahuja. “But others, like trimethylamine (TMAO), can stiffen arteries, fuel inflammation, and worsen salt retention.”
WHEN BALANCE TIPS THE WRONG WAY
A disturbed microbial balance, which doctors call dysbiosis, can have harmful effects. “When we lose fibre-fermenting bacteria, the body produces fewer protective fatty acids,” Dr. Ahuja says. “At the same time, TMA-producing species increase, pushing up TMAO levels and raising the risk of arterial stiffness and clotting. A leaky gut barrier also lets bacterial toxins seep into the bloodstream, fuelling chronic inflammation.”
Over time, this can make blood pressure harder to control and heighten the risk of heart failure, stroke, or kidney disease.
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