Hypertension or high blood pressure is a major risk factor for people with chronic kidney disease (CKD). 26 million people in U. S suffer from CKD. Recent study revealed that proteins in the common garden pea can help in treating high blood pressure and chronic kidney disease (CKD).

In the recent study Dr. Rotimi Aluko, a food chemist at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Canada along with colleague Dr. Harold Aukema fed a small dose of extracted pea protein hydrolysate from the yellow garden pea each day to mice bred to have a severe type of kidney disease called polycystic kidney disease.

Researchers found that after 8 weeks there was 20 per cent drop in blood pressure and 30 per cent increase in urine production in the rats on the pea protein diet as compared to diseased rats fed on a normal diet. Polycystic kidney disease severely reduces the output of urine.

Dr. Rotimi Aluko informed that eating yellow peas in their natural state won't give you the same health benefits as the pea protein they extracted in the lab, which can only be activated with special enzymes. If the human trials are successful, the researchers envisage their special protein being commercially available within the next two to three years.

Researchers said that the extract could be made into pill form or powder for adding to food and drinks.