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genetically modified rice to prevent and treat the disease

THE ESSENTIAL

  • Hypertension is characterized by abnormally high blood pressure in the blood vessels
  • Researchers have introduced a gene into rice plants made up of nine hypertensive peptides
  • Tested on rats, this rice would lead to a significant reduction in hypertension, without causing an undesirable side effect.

High blood pressure is the most common chronic disease in France, since one in three adults is affected. First preventable cause of stroke, hypertension is characterized by abnormally high pressure of the blood in the blood vessels and constitutes, when it is not controlled, “one of the main causes of cardiovascular, cerebrovascular or neurodegenerative complications (myocardial infarction, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease…) ”according to l’Inserm.

Common treatments for hypertension include ACE inhibitors (enzyme conversionangiotensin), which dilate blood vessels and lower blood pressure. However, there are many undesirable side effects (headache, dry cough, dizziness and lightheadedness, drowsiness, swelling of the face, mouth or throat, etc.).

A food to treat hypertension without side effects

Researchers have therefore undertaken to genetically modify rice, one of the most consumed foods in the world, in order to introduce several hypertensive peptides. Their work was published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. More specifically, they introduced a gene made up of nine ACE-inhibiting peptides and a blood vessel relaxant peptide into rice plants.

By testing their innovation on hypertensive rats for 5 weeks, the researchers realized that this genetically modified rice caused a significant reduction in hypertension, without causing undesirable side effects. “Reported to a 68kg human, we should eat barely half a tablespoon of this rice daily to prevent and treat hypertension ”, they write. Although spectacular, this discovery requires further study, particularly on the human organism.

Age and lifestyle

Hypertension is a silent disease that affects older people more: less than 10% of patients are 18-34 years old compared to more than 65% after 65 years old. It is estimated that half the people who have it would not know it. According to Inserm, aging promotes the loss of elasticity in the arteries, which constitutes “lThe first non-modifiable risk factor. But other risk factors are determined by lifestyle habits that can be changed: overweight, sedentary lifestyle, high salt consumption, tobacco or alcohol.”

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