Lycopene, tomatoes, and coronary heart disease

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Science
• Nutritional Science
• Antioxidant Research

Background:

• Tomatoes and lycopene are recognized for antioxidant properties and potential health benefits.
• Previous research on lycopene's efficacy against cardiovascular diseases yielded conflicting epidemiological results.
• The comparative cardioprotective effects of whole tomato juice versus isolated lycopene require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the cardioprotective abilities of tomato juice and lycopene.
• To evaluate the impact of tomato juice and lycopene on cardiac function and damage markers following ischemic events.

Main Methods:

• Rats were administered either tomato juice or lycopene via gavage for three weeks.
• Isolated rat hearts underwent a 30-minute ischemia period followed by a 2-hour reperfusion period.
• Assessment of lipid peroxidation, post-ischemic ventricular function, myocardial infarct size, and cardiomyocyte apoptosis was performed.

Main Results:

• Both tomato juice and lycopene treatments reduced lipid peroxidation levels.
• Only tomato juice administration significantly improved post-ischemic ventricular function compared to lycopene alone.
• Tomato juice, but not lycopene, effectively reduced myocardial infarct size and cardiomyocyte apoptosis.

Conclusions:

• Tomato juice exhibits significant cardioprotective abilities, surpassing those of isolated lycopene.
• The findings suggest that components within tomato juice, beyond lycopene, contribute to its heart-protective effects.
• This study provides novel evidence that whole tomato products may be more beneficial for cardiovascular health than lycopene supplementation alone.