Daily consumption of tomato juice with lycopene improves the function of the inner lining of blood vessels in healthy adults with borderline values, according to scientists who published a study in Food & Function (F&F).
In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 72 participants aged 40-64 years drank either a placebo (juice with almost no lycopene), juice with 15 milligrams, or juice with 26.7 milligrams of lycopene per day for 12 weeks. Endothelial function was assessed by endothelium-dependent arterial dilation (FMD).
By week 12, FMD was significantly higher in both tomato groups (6.1 percent and 6.5 percent versus 5.4 percent on placebo), with the higher dose showing an effect as early as week 4. Blood lycopene levels increased, but markers of oxidative stress and nitrogen compounds did not change significantly—the exact mechanism of improvement is not yet understood.
The study was conducted in initially healthy people with borderline FMD, so the findings cannot be directly extrapolated to patients with cardiovascular disease. However, the results support the idea that regular tomato consumption may benefit vascular health.
