Gut microbiota and hypertension: From pathogenesis to new therapeutic strategies

Hypertension (HTN) has become a global public health concern and a major risk factor for cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and kidney diseases. The complex interplay of genetic and environmental influences is important for the development of the disease. Accumulating evidence has illustrated the association of dysbiosis of gut microbiota with hypertension. Certain gut microbial strains may play either a pathogenic or a protective role in the development of hypertension. Oral probiotics can therefore represent a therapeutic approach for hypertension treatment. However, the relevant scientific work has only just begun, and the available data in this field remain limited. Fortunately, recent technological developments that permit identification of microbes and their products using culture-independent molecular detection techniques. In this review, we summarize the role of gut microbiota in hypertension progression, and probiotics in the treatment of hypertension.