After three years of dedicated work the scientists from Danish company Chr. Hansen A/S are now on the brink of a breakthrough. Using a special lactic acid bacteria they are able to make a yoghurt and potentially other food products that may significantly lower high blood pressure. The health effect of the bacteria, named Cardi-04™, has been demonstrated in clinical animal studies.

This information has been well received by the medical experts. Cardiologist Per Hildebrandt from Frederiksberg Hospital, Copenhagen, says: “I have looked at the documentation and find it very interesting. I know of no other foodstuffs that are so effective against high blood pressure.”

Chr. Hansen are obviously also very pleased with the research results. Chief Science Officer Peter Olesen says: “Millions of people all over the world, diabetics for example, struggle with high blood pressure. Normally it is not life-threatening here and now, but in the long term the damage to the body can be severe. I hope and believe that we will soon be able to offer healthy foods that reduce blood pressure in a natural way. Our studies so far show that the effect of Cardi-04™ is very significant.“

Patent pending
Chr. Hansen has already filed a patent request and according to the science officer expects this to be granted “very soon”. If things develop according to plan the first food products with Cardi-04™ will be available on supermarket shelves within a couple of years.

“We have worked on this project for three years now, and we are getting close to the goal.  We have certainly not reached the finish-line yet, but I believe we are on the home stretch.,” Mr. Olesen explains. He points out, though, that it is still too early to draw a final conclusion.
 
Hypertension – a few basic facts:
Brand new data from the US Census Bureau and the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey reveal that 65 million adults in the US, 1 in 3 Americans, have hypertension. According to the American Heart Association hypertension killed 46,765 Americans in 2001. Too high blood pressure, among the experts also known as “the silent killer”, may lead to strokes, heart attacks or kidney failure.