Antihypertensive effect of gamma-amino butyric acid enriched soy products in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

The effect of gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA)-enriched soybean on blood pressure was investigated in male spontaneously hypertensive rats. Ten-week-old rats were given diets containing graded levels of GABA-enriched soybean powder for 8 weeks. The systolic blood pressure in rats fed 0.15% GABA diet was significantly lower at 1st week and maintained lower values for 4 weeks as compared with 0% GABA controls. No effect on blood pressure was found in those of 0.03 and 0.3% GABA. The results suggest that there exist appropriate dietary GABA level to get the blood pressure lowering effect.