P-565: Effect of standardized tomato extract on blood pressure, endothelial function and plasma lycopene levels in treated hypertensive patients

• Published in: American journal of hypertension 2005-05, Vol.18 (S4), p.213A-213A
• Main Authors: Paran, Esther, Engelhard, Yechiel N., Hazan-Hallevy, Inbal, Sharoni, Yoav, Levy, Joseph
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Endothelial Function; Plasma Lycopene; Tomato Extract
• ISSN: 0895-7061; 1941-7225; 1879-1905
• DOI: 10.1016/j.amjhyper.2005.03.582

Treatment can reduce the increased risk for cardio- and cerbrovascular disease in hypertension (HT). However, only in about 30% of hypertensives BP is adequately controlled. A major problem in HT management is the lack of concordance to drug treatment. Non-pharmacological therapy with natural products may improve patient attitude and compliance with treatment. Tomato extract contains the carotenoids lycopene, phytoene, phytofluene and -carotene as well as vitamin E. These phytonutrients are well known as effective antioxidants. In our previous study we have shown the BP reducing properties of the tomato extract in grade I untreated hypertensives. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of adding tomato extract to pharmacologic treatment, in moderate hypertensives and to correlate this effect with plasma nitric oxide and serum lycopene levels. Sixty subjects with moderate HT, aged 46–66 years, treated with one or two antihypertensive medications, without concomitant diseases, were recruited. After a routine base line evaluation, the study participants entered two double blind cross-over treatment periods of 6 weeks each, with standardized tomato extract or identical placebo. The tomato extract (Lyc-O-Mato®, LycoRed Natural Products Industries, Ltd.) employed in the study provided a daily dose of 15 mg lycopene as well as -carotene, vitamin E, phytoene, phytofluene and other phytonutrients. Treatment with tomato extract reduced mean SBP from 144 at baseline to 135mmHg, an average of 9 mmHg reduction, and in DBP from 91 to 84 mmHg, an average of 7 mmHg reduction. The mean plasma nitrate at baseline was 10.18 mM, tomato extract addition resulted an increase to 15.42 mM, on placebo the levels were close to baseline 9.8 mM. The changes in plasma lycopene well correlated the treatment with tomato extract and the reduction of BP. These results suggest that the addition of antioxidant-rich tomato extract, to pharmacologic treatment of moderate hypertensives may be used as an adjuvant to anti-hypertensive therapy. Tomato extract was shown not only to reduce BP but to increase plasma nitrate level, a measure of improved endothelial function. Longer treatment may produce a beneficial effect on cardiovascular risk factors and TOD.