New Orleans: Drinking milk can assist in lowering blood pressure, scientists at the Tulane University in New Orleans have discovered.

A trial on 140 patients with hypertension showed a significant drop in their blood pressure of between three and five per cent.

As a result the researchers are to carry out a larger trial to examine whether the protein in soy milk has a similar effect.

Just how proteins from milk work is not clear, although it is known that other foods, such as salt, potassium and alcohol, can have an effect on blood pressure.

Milk protein can be taken in supplement form, or as milk itself.