The health of the cardiovascular system depends on nutrition. Fruits and vegetables are essential for maintaining health. The benefits of eating fruits and vegetables are linked to the fact that they contain specific components. For example, beets, rich in dietary nitrates, lower blood pressure and improve endothelial function.

Tomatoes reduce the risk of heart disease (CVD). This effect is because tomatoes contain lycopene. Lycopene is the predominant carotenoid in human plasma and one of the most potent antioxidants.

Scientists from the UK conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of scientific studies assessing the effect of tomato consumption or lycopene supplementation on cardiovascular risk biomarkers such as:

  • Cholesterol, high and low-density lipoproteins (HDL and LDL), triglycerides, and oxidized LDL.
  • The elasticity of vessels, assessed by FMD – the artery’s expansion with increased blood flow. Low FMD is associated with a risk of cardiovascular disease.
  • Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV) reflects the vascular wall’s sealing degree.
  • Inflammatory proteins: C-Reactive Protein (CRP) and IL-6.
  • ICAM-1 – cellular adhesion molecules, the level of which increases in severe atherosclerosis.
  • Systolic blood pressure (SBP).

The meta-analysis included 21 studies with nearly 1200 participants, followed for a mean of 4 months. The age of the participants is from 27 to 68 years old. Doses of tomato products – from 70 to 400 g/day. Lycopene doses are 4 to 30 mg/day.

Half of the studies involved healthy people, while the other half included patients with cardiometabolic disorders: metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, heart failure, type 2 diabetes, overweight, obesity, hypertension, and prehypertension.

Meta-Analysis Results

Intake of Tomatoes/Tomato Supplements:

  • Tomatoes significantly reduced LDL cholesterol by 0.22 mmol/l.
  • The short-term addition of tomatoes significantly increased vascular elasticity, with FMD dropping 2.53%. A 1% increase in FMD, regardless of concomitant factors, is associated with a 10-13% reduction in the risk of cardiovascular events.
  • Tomatoes reduced inflammation as measured by IL-6.
  • There was weak evidence for a positive effect of tomato consumption on other CVD risk factors.

Lycopene Supplement Intake:

  • Lycopene significantly reduced SBP by 5.66 mmHg.
  • There was weak evidence for a beneficial effect of lycopene on other CVD risk factors.

Tomatoes and Lycopene Supplements Improve Blood Lipid Depending on Eating Style

The Western eating style is low in fruits and vegetables and high in fat, sodium, and sugar. Sugar makes up over 13% of daily calorie intake, with almost half of the sugar coming from beverages. Other sources of sugar are cookies, cakes, and candies. Besides sugar, the Western diet is high in saturated and trans fats. These fats add more calories to food and increase LDL levels, leading to atherosclerosis.

The researchers compared the effects of tomato and lycopene consumption in Western and non-Western countries.

Eating tomatoes has significantly increased “good” HDL cholesterol by 0.19 mmol/L in countries with non-Western diets. Lycopene supplementation significantly reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure by 5.78 and 3.89 mmHg., respectively. Reducing systolic blood pressure by at least 5 mm Hg. can reduce the risk of death from stroke by 13-14% and end cardiovascular disease by 9%.

In Western countries, eating tomatoes has significantly lowered the “bad” LDL cholesterol level by 0.25 mmol/L. Reducing LDL cholesterol by 1 mmol/l can reduce the risk of myocardial infarction by 23%, and mortality from cardiovascular and other causes by 12%.

Conclusion

Eating tomatoes significantly lowers LDL cholesterol levels and improves vascular elasticity. Tomatoes do not affect other blood lipids and endothelial function.

Lycopene supplements significantly reduce systolic blood pressure. Lycopene supplements do not affect other indicators of cardiovascular health.

The present meta-analysis confirmed that only the consumption of tomatoes or tomato supplements, not lycopene supplements, lowers LDL cholesterol because, in addition to lycopene, tomatoes contain the antioxidant vitamin C and other valuable substances that lower cholesterol by reducing its absorption in the intestines and helping to remove cholesterol from the body.

Eating tomatoes or lycopene supplements improves blood lipids and vascular elasticity and may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

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