Scientists develop genetically modified rice that could help treat high blood pressure

Altered grain could allow adult to be treated with daily half spoon of rice

Scientists say they have developed a strain of rice that can tackle hypertension with no obvious side effects (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Scientists have developed a genetically modified strain of rice that could help fight against cardiovascular diseases and strokes.

High blood pressure, or hypertension, can serve as a major risk factor when it comes to heart problems — and are often treated by a type of synthetic drugs known as ACE inhibitors, carrying a number of side effects including dry cough, headache, skin rashes and kidney impairment.

However some naturally-occurring ACE inhibitors can be found in certain food items like milk, eggs, fish, meat and plants — showing fewer side effects but proving to have been too expensive and time consuming to merit purifying them on their own.