Hydrogen Sulfide may Regulate Blood Pressure

Researchers have discovered that hydrogen sulfide, a common gas that smells like rotten eggs, may help regulate blood pressure.

 The researchers tested two groups of mice. One group was genetically modified so that they were unable to make an enzyme called cystathionine gamma-lyase (CSE). Researchers suspected that CSE controls the production of hydrogen sulfide. The second group of mice was not genetically altered.

The genetically modified mice could not produce hydrogen sulfide. These mice also experienced increases in blood pressure and diminished blood vessel relaxation. But when the scientists supplemented these mice with hydrogen sulfide, their blood pressure dropped. The authors concluded that hydrogen sulfide may help regulate blood pressure by relaxing the blood vessels.

Many foods, including garlic, onions and broccoli, are high in sulfur, which can be used to make hydrogen sulfide in the body. In fact, several early studies have shown that garlic and onion may lower blood pressure in humans. Although promising, additional studies are needed to confirm these findings.

For more information about high blood pressure, please visit Natural Standard's Medical Conditions database.

Comments

[Mathew]

This is a very interesting study. How much of a blood pressure drop did the mice without CSE experience? How much did their blood pressure rise when given sources of hydrogen sulfide? In Down syndrome, the body produces an excess of hydrogen sulfide. Do people with Down syndrome have lower blood pressures than people without?

[Ashley]

Does this mean that there will be hydrogen sulfide supplements? And if so, will they possess the offending odor of rotten eggs? That will have a hard time selling. I guess more research would need to demonstrate which foods or supplements already out there can aid in the production of hydrogen sulfide.

[nancy]

According to this finding then, new drugs for hypertension can be developed using hydrogen sulfide. However, the manufacture needs to think of a way to mask the smell of this active ingredient to be able to market this drug, I believe. I wonder if there are any side effects and how effective it (hydrogen sulfide) is in treating hypertension compared to other existing antihypertensive agents since the study did not mention any of these.

[Danny]

What a great article. Finally, an easy answer to a major health problem! Many people use garlic, onions and broccoli while cooking, so it’s an easy way to get hydrogen sulfide in your diet.

Ashley has a great question. For people who can’t digest these foods, will there be supplements to take their place? Onions, garlic and broccoli can be hard for some people to digest, so a supplement would make sense.

[Peter]

Mathew:

Yes, patients with Down syndrome generally do have lower blood pressure compared to patients who do not have the syndrome. There was a study to see if the cause was due to Down syndrome patients being in-patient or not, but out-patients with DS still had lower blood pressure. The in-patient group and out-patient groups both had lower blood pressure compared to the control group without DS. These are more data to confirm the possible relationship between hydrogen sulfide and blood pressure lowering.

[Sam W.]

I have always wondered why foods with garlic were recommended for people. I think hydrogen sulfide supplements may be too much though. The foods listed in this article, such as onions and broccoli, seem to be sufficient sources of sulfur, and I think you would probably be all set consuming these. I don't see hydrogen sulfide supplements selling out quick unless they prove to be very effective in regulating blood pressure.

[Kevin S.]

The study mentions that past studies "have highlighted the fundamental importance of gaseous signaling molecules in biology and medicine." I have never heard of treatment through a mechanism of action of gaseous molecules. Anyone know how this actually works? Do the gases transport themselves to the cells of the body and then go through the membrane, similar to medication traveling through the bloodstream?

[liz]

More studies need to be done to confirm efficacy and safety of hydrogen sulfide supplement before considering its use in humans.

[Becca]

Wow, this is the first I have heard of this! A stinky fart or stink bomb may have a blood pressure-lowering effect. I guess you have to understand the science of it. Hydrogen sulfide is produced in the thin lining of the blood vessels and regulates blood pressure by relaxing blood vessels. The studies have been done in mice. More studies would need to be done in humans to see if we can design drugs to treat hypertension.

[Anna H.]

This was an interesting article for me to read, and I am sure that the many people who suffer from high blood pressure would agree with me! I would be interested in knowing about the recommended preparation of these foods. How should I prepare them to achieve a maximum benefit from consuming them? What are other foods that can offer me similar benefits?

[Will]

I’m with Nancy. How much sulfur is safe? But I would not go so far as to consider taking hydrogen sulfide as monotherapy. Like any dietary supplement, if used for a specific indication, especially something like blood pressure, I’d only use them as adjuvant therapy, meaning, in the addition to my medications or current therapy.

[doctorharvey]

Just another reason to eat vegetables -- in addition to fiber, nutrients, minerals and proven impact on wellness. This isn’t ground-breaking, as hydrogen sulfide-containing products like garlic already have a proven impact on lowering blood pressure, though it may reveal a new mechanism in doing so. I don’t think we should genetically alter humans like the animals in the experiment, but maybe future medications may involve hydrogen sulfide active side chains or chemical structure as a possible alternative to current medication classes?

[megan]

How much hydrogen sulfide were the rats exposed to? Is it physiologically possible for humans to produce the same amount?

[Justin T.]

In response to Kevin S:

There are plenty of gaseous molecules at work in the body, including oxygen and carbon dioxide. In addition to hydrogen sulfide, nitric oxide has shown to be a messenger in a pathway to relax smooth muscles, including blood vessels that would lower blood pressure. Viagra® works in this pathway to relax specific smooth muscles. Also, gases easily pass through most membranes because they are relatively small.

[KR]

Who would have thought that hydrogen sulfide is a vasodilator? I don't think it will win molecule of the year, as did the superstar NO, but it is interesting nonetheless. I wonder if the hypothesized mechanism of action is similar to that of NO. Plus, there is the added benefit that this gas, albeit smelly, is an abundant breakdown product of many of our foodstuffs. Fascinating stuff about Down syndrome, by the way.

[SUMA]

The authors of this study state "now that we know hydrogen sulfide's role in regulating blood pressure, it may be possible to design drug therapies that enhance its formation as an alternative to the current methods of treatment for hypertension." Why is this important, you ask? One in three adults has high blood pressure, but only 61 percent are under treatment and roughly two-thirds do not have it under control, according to the American Heart Association (AHA) Web site. In 2004, the disease killed more than 50,000 people in the U.S. Some people may only need lifestyle changes to control their high blood pressure, while others need medicine as well. Either way, treating high blood pressure is usually a lifelong process. Without treatment, high blood pressure can damage the heart, brain, kidneys or eyes. Treatment of primary high blood pressure decreases the risk of heart failure, coronary artery disease, heart attack, abnormal heartbeats, stroke and kidney disease, and it reduces the risk of death from these conditions. Any information that can be obtained from studies, especially concerning “natural products" or foods that can lead to the development of treatments to control high blood pressure, is worth pursuing.

[Natasha]

I think this is yet another reminder to eat healthy foods! Sure, supplements of hydrogen sulfide may be on the shelf in the future, but if we eat right, then we really shouldn’t need to take them. Garlic and onions are typical in a Mediterranean diet, which has long been praised for its health benefits. And broccoli, as a dark green vegetable, is already known to be high in antioxidants. I think the best course of treatment for holistic wellness has to be individual diet and fitness. However, if high blood pressure is high enough to warrant medicinal treatments, even when diet and exercise regimes are in place, then so be it.

[RZD]

Very interesting. I know from folklore and my grandma's advice that eating garlic and onions is really good for you in all in terms of immunity, blood pressure and memory. In fact, it is said that when ever you are traveling to a foreign land, in order to prevent any illness, you should eat the land's garlic and onions.

[AJ]

It would be interesting to see a trial conducted in pre-hypertensive, otherwise healthy patients to see if incorporating extra onions and garlic in their diets would lower their blood pressure.

[MHD]

This is a great news for pharmaceuticals that are trying to develop alternative drugs for blood pressure treatment. A symptom of trisomy 21, also known as Down syndrome, is an overproduction of hydrogen sulfide. People with trisomy 21 have also been known to have significantly decreased risks for atherosclerosis and blood pressure problems. This, combined with the fact that hydrogen sulfide is a vasodilator, may indicate that new pharmaceutical drugs are on the horizon.

[William Dublois]

This is a very interesting article, and I wonder what the connections are between hydrogen sulfide and nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is also responsible for relaxation and dilation of blood vessels, thus reducing blood pressure. I believe that these two gases may exert similar effects on the vasculature endothelium. It would be interesting to see if people with allergies to sulfur-containing medications have the ability to utilize this gas or if ingesting high quantities of the sulfur-containing vegetables that were mentioned could trigger a allergic reactions. If this was the case, blood pressure in people with sulfur allergies would accordingly be higher because of their bodies’ inability to utilize this vasodilating gas.

[mike]

Kiwi fruit can help and support blood pressure and circulation. Kiwi fruit is an outstanding source of vitamin C, which cleanses the body and helps provide resistance to diseases. It is also rich in potassium, making it suitable for people with high blood pressure or edema.