LONDON, April 29 (UPI) -- British scientists say they have found hydrogen sulfide -- a gas associated with sewage and rotten eggs -- plays a role in regulating blood pressure.

A team of researchers from the Peninsula Medical School and King's College London previously showed hydrogen sulfide, or H2S, is produced naturally within our bodies. In their latest study, the researchers found H2S relaxes vascular tissue and improves the flexibility of veins and arteries, producing a smoother flow of blood.

The scientists said they synthesized a new molecule that allows H2S to be released into the body in a more controllable and regulated manner. The result is a slow-releasing H2S donor molecule that can be used to model the effects of naturally produced H2S, allowing the researchers to further understand the role H2S has in the body during health and disease.

The study, led by Kings College Professor Philip Moore and Dr. Matt Whiteman from the Peninsula Medical School, is reported in the journal Circulation.