http://www.biosciencetechnology.com/news/2014/06/%E2%80%98tomato-pill%E2%80%99-improves-blood-vessel-function?et_cid=3987646&
A daily supplement of an extract found in tomatoes may improve the function of blood vessels in patients with cardiovascular disease, according to new research from the University of Cambridge.
The incidence of cardiovascular disease varies worldwide, but is
notably reduced in southern Europe, where a ‘Mediterranean diet’
consisting of a larger consumption of fruit, vegetables and olive oil
predominates. Recent dietary studies suggest that this diet reduces the
incidence of events related to the disease, including heart attack and
stroke, in patients at high cardiovascular risk, or those who have
previously had the disease.
One component of the Mediterranean diet thought to play a role in
reducing this risk is lycopene, a powerful antioxidant which is ten
times more potent than vitamin E. Lycopene is found in tomatoes and
other fruits, and its potency appears to be enhanced when it is consumed
pureed, in ketchup or in the presence of olive oil. Whilst there is
strong epidemiological evidence to support the role of lycopene in
reducing cardiovascular risk, the mechanism by which it does so is
unclear.
In a study published in the journal PLOS One, researchers
at the University of Cambridge and the Cambridge University Hospitals
National Health Service Foundation Trust demonstrate one mechanism by
which they believe lycopene reduces the risk.
Dr. Joseph Cheriyan, consultant clinical pharmacologist &
physician at Addenbrooke’s Hospital and associate lecturer at the
University of Cambridge, said: “There’s a wealth of research that
suggests that the Mediterranean diet– which includes lycopene found in
tomatoes and other fruit as a component– is good for our cardiovascular
health. But so far, it’s been a mystery what the underlying mechanisms
could be.”
The researchers carried out a randomized, double blind, placebo
controlled, interventional trial investigating the effects of lycopene
using a gold standard method of measuring the function of blood vessels
called forearm blood flow, which is predictive of future cardiovascular
risk. Thirty-six cardiovascular disease patients and thirty-six healthy
volunteers were given either Ateronon (an off-the-shelf supplement
containing 7mg of lycopene) or a placebo treatment. As a double blind
trial, neither the study participants nor the researchers dispensing the
pills were aware which treatment was being provided.
The patients with cardiovascular disease were all on statins
(cholesterol-lowering drugs). However, despite this, they still had a
relatively impaired function of the endothelium– the inner lining of
blood vessels– compared to healthy volunteers. This function is
determined by the response of blood vessels in the forearm to a
naturally occurring molecule called acetylcholine. Endothelial function
predicts future events, so having a healthy endothelium is an important
factor in preventing the evolution of heart disease.
The researchers found that 7mg of oral lycopene supplementation
improved and normalised endothelial function in the patients, but not in
healthy volunteers. Lycopene improved the responses of blood vessels to
acetylcholine (which stimulates the release of an important hormone
called nitric oxide which is a blood vessel dilator) by over a half (53
percent) compared to baseline in those taking the pill after correction
for placebo effects; constriction of the blood vessels is one of the key
factors that can lead to heart attack and stroke. However, the
supplement had no effect on blood pressure, arterial stiffness or levels
of lipids.
“We’ve shown quite clearly that lycopene improves the function of
blood vessels in cardiovascular disease patients,” said Cheriyan. “It
reinforces the need for a healthy diet in people at risk from heart
disease and stroke. A daily ‘tomato pill’ is not a substitute for other
treatments, but may provide added benefits when taken alongside other
medication. However, we cannot answer if this may reduce heart disease–
this would need much larger trials to investigate outcomes more
carefully.”
Professor Jeremy Pearson, associate medical director at the British
Heart Foundation, said: “Impaired endothelial function is a known
predictor of increased risk of future heart disease. Further work is
needed to understand whether the beneficial effects seen in this small
study translate into clinical benefit for at-risk patients.”
Source: University of Cambridge
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