The nutritional benefits of low-fat dairy products are well known for ages.
The latest studies show that the ingredients of dairy products - some combination of milk proteins are effective and help lower blood pressure by about 10 mmHg.
The results of a rat study from Valio institute indicate, the combination of Isoleucine-Proline-Proline (IPP) and Valine-Proline-Proline (VPP), with or without plant sterols, are accentuating the development of hypertension in rats.
The authors of the study say: This study provides further evidence of the beneficial cardiovascular effects of casein-derived tri-peptides in a novel animal model in this context.
The results of this study prove the conclusions from another meta-analysis that Chinese scientists published in the journal Nutrition.
The same milk-derived peptides, IPP and VPP that were studied by Valio, were the subject of the research of the scientists from Soochow and Peking Universities too.
The trials showed that the milk tri-peptides were associated with a 4.8 mmHg reduction in systolic blood pressure and a 2.2 mmHg reduction in diastolic blood pressure.
For this study, researchers from Valio and the University of Helsinki used an animal model of type 2 diabetes. The rats were fed and supplemented with a salt-enriched diet and the tri-peptide product with or without plant sterols.
Lower blood pressure, in the range of 10 to 12 mmHg, was recorded at the end of the study.
Moreover, significant improvement in the function of blood vessels was indicated when tri-peptide groups were supplemented. However, the results show that the presence of the plant sterols had no visible effect on blood pressure.
Today, a small number of milk-derived ingredients are already in use to improve cardiovascular health.
One IPP ingredient that was launched in 2008 is DSM -- also know on the market as TensGuard.
Another product is Puleva Biotech. It is investigating the potential of hydrolyzed caseins from goat's milk to prevent the development of high blood pressure. The health benefits and efficacy of the product have been backed in animal and human studies.
The recent market research that Frost & Sullivan carried out reveals that four ingredients phyto-sterols; omega-3s; beta-glucans and soy protein are dominating in the heart health market.

About one billion people worldwide are suffering from high blood pressure. And it's unfortunate to know that the numbers will double by 2025 if necessary means are not prepared. To face such stark reality the products aimed at cutting this phenomenon will prove popular.
High blood pressure or hypertension is defined as having blood pressure greater then a systolic 140mmHg and diastolic 90 mmHg.
According to the latest statistics this is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), and a disease causes to almost 50 per cent of deaths in a developed world.