A traditional Scandinavian beverage, fermented milk, can help reduce blood pressure in people with hypertension, a new study from Finland shows.The drink has long been popular in Scandinavian countries, Dr. Riita Korpela of Valio Ltd. Research and Development in Helsinki, the study’s lead author, told Reuters Health in an E-mail interview. Valio makes a modern version, with juice added, and sells it in several European countries.It is made by adding Lactobacillus to milk, which breaks down the milk protein casein into two types of protein fragments called tripeptides.The tripeptides, isoleucine-proline-proline and valine-proline-proline, have been shown in animal studies to reduce blood pressure and also lower blood pressure in people with mild hypertension. According to Korpela and her colleagues, they work by blocking the blood-pressure-raising chemical angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), the same mechanism employed by ACE inhibitor drugs.
