Tomato Powder Modulates NF-κB, mTOR, and Nrf2 Pathways during Aging in Healthy Rats.

Area of Science:

• Nutritional Biochemistry
• Gerontology
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Aging is associated with metabolic dysregulation, increased oxidative stress, and chronic inflammation.
• The NF-κB and mTOR pathways are implicated in age-related inflammation and metabolic decline, while Nrf2 activation confers protective effects.
• Dietary interventions are being explored to mitigate age-related health issues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of tomato powder (TP) on glucose and lipid metabolism in aging rats.
• To assess TP's impact on oxidative stress markers and key signaling pathways (NF-κB, mTOR, Nrf2) during aging.
• To determine if TP supplementation can ameliorate age-associated metabolic and cellular changes in rats.

Main Methods:

• Male Wistar rats were divided into control and TP-supplemented groups at two different ages (3-week-old and 8-week-old).
• Rats were fed either a standard diet or a diet supplemented with TP for varying durations (7 or 69 weeks).
• Metabolic parameters, liver and kidney function, oxidative stress markers (MDA, SOD, CAT, GPx), and protein expression/phosphorylation (NF-κBp65, mTOR, 4E-BP1, P70S6K, Nrf2) were analyzed.

Main Results:

• TP supplementation significantly reduced hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and hypercholesterolemia in aged rats.
• TP improved liver and kidney function and decreased oxidative stress markers (MDA) while increasing antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, CAT, GPx).
• TP inhibited age-related increases in NF-κBp65 and mTOR pathway activation and elevated Nrf2 expression in rat livers.

Conclusions:

• Tomato powder ameliorates age-associated inflammation and oxidative stress in rats.
• Inhibition of NF-κB and mTOR pathways, coupled with Nrf2 activation, likely underlies TP's benefits.
• TP supplementation shows potential for improving glucose and lipid metabolism and preserving liver and kidney function during aging.