Role of Probiotics in the Prevention and Management of Cardiovascular Diseases: Insights from a Doxorubicin-Induced Model

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), particularly acute myocardial infarction, represent a critical global health concern driven by multifactorial risk factors, including hypercholesterolemia. While conventional lipid-lowering therapies remain effective, their side effects and limitations have prompted the exploration of alternative approaches. Probiotics, postbiotics, and functional foods have emerged as innovative strategies capable of modulating the gut microbiota to enhance lipid metabolism and mitigate oxidative stress and inflammation, offering new possibilities for CVD management. This review emphasizes the significance of doxorubicin-induced models in studying CVD mechanisms and evaluating therapeutic potentials. By leveraging insights into the gut-microbiota-heart axis, these models facilitate the development of novel interventions targeting hypercholesterolemia-induced CVDs. Cholesterol-lowering probiotic strains and functional food products stand out for their ability to provide safer complementary options to traditional therapies. Advancing research in this field requires optimizing experimental models, investigating molecular pathways, and translating findings into clinical practice through rigorous trials. The integration of these innovative solutions holds the potential to improve cardiovascular health, address unmet clinical needs, and reduce the global burden of CVDs.