Small Food-Derived Peptides Inhibit Both ACE and DPP-4: Blood Pressure and Blood Sugar Benefits | Research

The takeaway

Specific short peptides (GP, RGDS, SY) showed dual inhibition of ACE and DPP-4 enzymes, with molecular docking revealing binding mechanisms for combined blood pressure and blood sugar benefits.

Dual enzyme inhibition
Simple food peptides GP, RGDS, and SY inhibit both blood pressure (ACE) and blood sugar (DPP-4) enzymes

What the researchers found

Short food-derived peptides (GP, RGDS, SY) demonstrated dual ACE and DPP-4 inhibitory activity, with molecular docking characterizing their binding mechanisms.

Why it matters

Finding single peptides that inhibit both ACE (blood pressure) and DPP-4 (preserves GLP-1 for blood sugar) from food sources suggests dietary approaches to combined cardiometabolic health.

The numbers in context

ACE was purified 3,575-fold. Enzyme molecular weight: two bands at ~60 kDa and ~70 kDa. Vmax: 96.15 µmol/min. Three peptides tested: GP (2 residues), RGDS (4 residues), SDGRG (5 residues).

How the study worked

In vitro enzyme inhibition assays for ACE and DPP-4. Molecular docking to characterize peptide-enzyme binding interactions. Tested three specific short peptides.

Who was studied

N/A — in vitro enzyme kinetics study using human serum ACE

What this study cannot tell us

In vitro study. Inhibitory potency much lower than pharmaceutical drugs. Peptide stability during digestion and absorption is unknown. Clinical significance of food-level inhibition is uncertain.

How to read the evidence

Preliminary evidence: in vitro enzyme inhibition with molecular modeling. No in vivo or clinical data.

When this study was published

Published in 2024. Advances understanding of multi-target food-derived bioactive peptides.

The bigger picture

Pharmaceutical companies sell separate ACE inhibitor and DPP-4 inhibitor drugs. Finding that simple food peptides can do both simultaneously suggests nature has already optimized multi-target metabolic protection — accessible through diet.

Questions still open

Are the ACE/DPP-4 inhibition levels from food peptides clinically meaningful?
Do these peptides survive digestion intact to reach their enzyme targets?
Could concentrated food peptide supplements provide meaningful dual inhibition?

Common questions

Can food peptides act like blood pressure and diabetes drugs?

These small peptides inhibit the same enzymes as ACE inhibitors and DPP-4 inhibitors. However, the effect is much milder than pharmaceutical drugs. Think of it as gentle, dietary-level metabolic support rather than drug-equivalent treatment.

Which foods contain these peptides?

GP, RGDS, and SY are released when protein-rich foods are digested. They are found in dairy, meat, fish, and legume protein digests. Regular protein consumption provides exposure to these and many other bioactive peptides.

Read the original research

Exploration of inhibitor effect of Gly-Pro (GP), Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser (RGDS) and Ser-Asp-Gly-Arg-Gly (SDGRG) bioactive peptides on angiotensin-converting enzyme activity purified from human serum.

Journal of biomolecular structure & dynamics, 43(10), 4901-4909

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Adanas, Resul; Turkoglu, Vedat. (2025). Exploration of inhibitor effect of Gly-Pro (GP), Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser (RGDS) and Ser-Asp-Gly-Arg-Gly (SDGRG) bioactive peptides on angiotensin-converting enzyme activity purified from human serum.. Journal of biomolecular structure & dynamics, 43(10), 4901-4909. https://doi.org/10.1080/07391102.2024.2306195