Short communication: Is consumption of a cheese rich in angiotensin-converting enzyme-inhibiting peptides, such as the Norwegian cheese Gamalost, associated with reduced blood pressure?

• Published in: Journal of dairy science Vol. 97; no. 5; pp. 2662 - 2668
• Main Authors: Nilsen, R., Pripp, A.H., Høstmark, A.T., Haug, A., Skeie, S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.05.2014
• Subjects: angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibiting peptide; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors - administration & dosage; blood pressure; Blood Pressure - drug effects; cheese; Cheese - analysis; Cross-Sectional Studies; dairy product; Diet; Female; Humans; Hypertension - prevention & control; Male; Middle Aged; Norway; Peptides - administration & dosage; Norway; blood pressure; dairy product; angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibiting peptide; cheese
• ISSN: 0022-0302; 1525-3198
• DOI: 10.3168/jds.2013-7479

Epidemiological and clinical studies have shown that angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibiting peptides derived from dairy products may decrease blood pressure. These peptides have been identified in many cheeses, and Gamalost, a traditional Norwegian cheese, is particularly rich in these peptides. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to examine whether frequency of Gamalost intake was associated with blood pressure in a Norwegian population sample. Blood pressure and other clinical measurements, including the factors of metabolic syndrome, were obtained from 168 participants (56% female, mean age = 51yr) who completed a questionnaire about dietary habits and other health-related factors. Mean Gamalost intake was 2 servings per week. The prevalence of hypertension was 23.8% in the population, with mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures of 128 and 78mmHg, respectively. Intake of Gamalost was inversely associated with systolic blood pressure. Each increase in frequency unit of Gamalost intake corresponded to a reduction in systolic blood pressure of 0.72mmHg, after controlling for sex, age, education, waist circumference, physical activity, smoking status, and dairy food intake. Results from this study indicate that consumption of Gamalost (or other foods rich in ACE-inhibiting peptides) may reduce blood pressure.