Guest guest Posted March 23, 2009 Report Share Posted March 23, 2009 Extracts from garden peas could be used as a food additive or supplement to reduce high blood pressure and kidney disease, claim scientists. By Richard Alleyne, Science Correspondent Last Updated: 9:39PM GMT 22 Mar 2009 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/5032707/Proteins-from-garden-pea-ma\ y-help-fight-high-blood-pressure-and-kidney-disease.html Peas have long been recognised as a superfood containing protein, dietary fibre, and vitamins wrapped in a low-fat, cholesterol-free package. But new research shows for the first time that concentrating extracts from the pea can have dramatic affect on blood pressure and chronic kidney disease (CKD). " In people with high blood pressure, our protein could potentially delay or prevent the onset of kidney damage, " said study author Dr Rotimi Aluko, a food chemist at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Canada. " In people who already have kidney disease, our protein may help them maintain normal blood pressure levels so they can live longer. " The study, which will be presented at the American Chemical Society's conference, is the first reporting that a natural food product can relieve symptoms of kidney disease, the scientists said. High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a major risk factor for CKD, a condition that has been affecting an increasing number of people around the world. CKD is difficult to treat, and may progress to end-stage kidney disease that requires kidney dialysis or a kidney transplant. Working with colleague Dr Harold Aukema, Dr Aluko purified a mixture of small proteins - called pea protein hydrolysate - from the yellow garden pea. The researchers fed small daily doses of the protein mixture to laboratory rats with kidney disease. At the end of the eight-week-long study period, the protein-fed rats with kidney disease showed a 20 per cent drop in blood pressure when compared to diseased rats on a normal diet, the researchers say. " This is significant because a majority of CKD patients actually die from cardiovascular complications that arise from the high blood pressure associated with kidney malfunction, " Dr Aluko said. E-mail message checked by Internet Security (5.5.0.212) Database version: 5.12020 http://www.pctools.com/uk/internet-security/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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