Pea-based therapy may lower blood pressure

March 23, 2009 Researchers from Canada presented their findings Sunday at the American Chemical Society's national meeting. They found that blood pressure dropped 20 percent in the rats that were fed a mixture of yellow garden pea proteins. They also found that kidney function improved.

Doctors say, in order to be effective in humans, the pea protein must be mixed with certain enzymes to form a nutritional supplement in liquid or pill form.

Human trials are underway.

If successful, a pea-based therapy might be available in 2 to 3 years.