Peptide extracts from the Arctic prawnPandalus Borealishave demonstrated blood pressure benefits via the,most potent Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) inhibiting peptide concentrate that is reported in scientific literature.

Those results in a small rat study, published in volume 46 of Process Biochemistry in 2011, have prompted a human clinical to be commissioned by the same Norwegian organisation - Nofima .

That hydrolysates-peptides study is due to complete by years end.

ACE inhibitors work by inhibiting the conversion of angiotensin I to the potent vasoconstrictor, angiotensin II, thereby improving blood flow and blood pressure.

Nofima senior scientist and lead author of the study, Asbjrn Gildberg, said the ACE results were significant, although not necessarily linked just to the particular type of shrimp-prawn.

These are the highest seen but hydrolysates from Chinese shrimps have indicated levels almost as good, he said.The human trial data will be very interesting.

Results

The researchers wrote: The measurements by two independent methods both revealed higherin vitroACE inhibitory activity, IC50=0.075 and 0.035mg/ml, respectively, than earlier reported in comparable hydrolysates.

An introductory feeding trial with spontaneously hypertensive rats indicated positivein vivoresults when the rats were given 60mg hydrolysate/kg body weight per day.

Although furtherin vivostudies are necessary to verify the antihypertensive potential, the very highin vitroACE inhibitory activity reveals that the shrimp protein hydrolysate is a promising candidate for nutraceutical application.

Read more:
Prawn peptides are ACE for blood pressure: Rat study