Flatulence's Stench Related To Lower Blood Pressure

Findings of a recent study undertaken by researchers in Canada have suggested that the foul odor of gas generated in the alimentary canal or flatulence may perhaps have a crucial task in controlling blood pressure. In both cases, the gas is hydrogen sulphide - a toxic substance.

The findings of the research published in the recent edition of the journal titled ‘Science’ states that it has been found that when the hydrogen sulphide produced by bacteria in the human intestines is released, it calms down the blood vessels facilitating the blood circulation throughout the body.

According to Rui Wang, a physiologist at the Lakehead University at Thunder Bay in Ontario, it is difficult to overrate the biological significance of hydrogen sulphide or the gas’ inference vis-à-vis high blood pressure or hypertension. In fact, Wang has prepared the research paper along with Lingyun Wu, a pharmacologist at the University of Saskatchewan, and other researchers and scientists from the Johns Hopkins Medical School located in Baltimore.

It may be mentioned here that the study was conducted on mice over a period of five years. During the research, scientists discovered that an enzyme known as CSE generated the gas or hydrogen sulphide in the cells coating the walls of the arteries and veins passing all over the body. In fact, the results of the study conducted by the Canadian researchers corroborated the findings of a previous research that put forward the theory regarding a connection between the enzyme and the gas or flatulence.

During the course of the research, the scientists propagated and brought up mice that had CSE levels much below the normal intensity of the enzyme. In due course, the scientists discovered that the mice bred by them possessed considerably lesser levels of hydrogen sulphide as compared to the normal animals with typical CSE intensity. At the same time, the scientists detected that the mice suffering from insufficient CSE had higher blood pressure. To be precise, when compared with the normal animals, the mice with lower CSE levels had 20 per cent higher blood pressure.

Interestingly enough, when the engineered mice that had lesser CSE intensity were administered a drug called methacholine, their blood pressure was found to be more or less similar to those mice which possessed the usual levels of CSE. Incidentally, methacholine is a medicine normally administered to people to calm down their blood vessels. Following this finding, the researchers suggested that hydrogen sulphide - the gas produced by bacteria in the intestinal tract - was accountable for the change in the blood pressure in most animals as also the humans. The authors of the research findings published in the journal ‘Science’ further hinted that their research results may prompt new methods of treatment for controlling blood pressure in humans.

In a press release issued by the Johns Hopkins University, Dr. Solomon H. Snyder, a neuroscientist associated with the university who also co-authored the findings of the research by Canadian scientist, asserted that now that it has been established that hydrogen sulphide is responsible for controlling blood pressure, it will enable researchers to develop new medications that will facilitate the formation of the gas in the intestines. He said that the findings of the research are significant as they would definitely lead to new and alternative methods for treating hypertension or high blood pressure.

Comments

Back To Top