Peptides are classes of organic compounds found not only in humans, but fish too. The name is derived from the Greek word for small digestibles and is defined as groups of amino acids connected in a defined order. Amino acids are elemental to the formation of protein. Fish peptides have a variety of medicinal benefits and are used extensively in medical research.
Decrease Hypertension
Hypertension is a disorder occurring when your blood pressure remains at a certain elevated level above where it should be. Researchers from the Center for Health and Sports Science published in 2002 findings that fish peptides decrease hypertensive symptoms. The study was unique in that it combined a control group who consumed a vegetable drink and another group who consumed a vegetable drink with the dipeptide Valyl-Tyrosine, which was isolated from sardines. Participants in the group that consumed the vegetable drink with the dipeptide, had their high blood pressure reduced without any side effects noted.
Anti-Tumor Effect
In 2009, a publication from the Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology found that the grouper fish, which goes by the scientific name epinephelus coioides, contained the peptide epinecidin-1. This peptide was found to exhibit antimicrobial characteristics and to be viable to be used in cancer therapies. In a controlled study where this peptide was introduced to both cancer cells and non-cancer cells, it was found to have an anti-tumor effect. When the cancerous cells were introduced to the peptide, both apoptosis and necrosis occurred. Apoptosis and necrosis are both descriptors for the programmed death or deterioration of certain cells.
Protection from Infection
In 2000, a study was released that looked at the protection fish peptides had on juvenile coho salmon. It was noted that when coho salmon were subjected to a disease called Vibro anguillarum, their mortality rate was between 50 to 90 percent. The salmon were not able to survive because their bodies were unable to fight the disease. It was then found, that when the salmon were given doses of specific fish peptides in regulated doses, their mortality rates decreased when exposed to the disease. The salmon were able to fight the infection more so than the salmon who had not been given the doses of fish peptides. The fish peptides that were given to the salmon were a cecropin-melittin hybrid peptide and pleurocidin amide.
Member Comments
MDR2425 April 6
Many thanks to Livestrong for devoting the resources to bring all this good information about Peptides into one place. Goo work Joseph Dunbar as well.
Bluewave Marine Ingredients has been commercially producing fish peptides for 2 years...with important benefits for health & nutrition in large scale animal feed applications. We are opening our 2nd plant (in Pisco, Peru) where we will produce human grade peptide products on a large scale (most fish peptide plants would fit into the average living room) -- ours site is 1000s of square meters.
Keep up the good work.