tomatoes can help prevent CVD

January 27, 2011

Tomatoes Found to Contain Nutrient Which Prevents Vascular Diseases

26-Jan-2011

January 2011 - They are the most widely produced fruit in the world and now

scientists in Japan have discovered that tomatoes contain a nutrient which

could tackle the onset of vascular diseases. The research, published in the

journal Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, reveals that an extracted

compound, 9-oxo-octadecadienoic, has anti-dyslipidemic affects.

The team led by Dr Teruo Kawada, from Kyoto University and supported by the

Research and Development Program for New Bio-industry Initiatives, Japan,

focused their research on extracts which tackle dyslipidemia, a condition

which is caused by an abnormal amount of lipids, such as cholesterol or fat,

in the blood stream.

" Dyslipidemia itself usually causes no symptoms, " said Kawada, " however; it

can lead to symptomatic vascular diseases, such as arteriosclerosis and

cirrhosis. In order to prevent these diseases it is important to prevent an

increased build up of lipids. "

Tomato is already known to contain many compounds beneficial to health. In

this study the team analyzed 9-oxo-octadecadienoic acid, to test its

potential anti-dyslipidemia properties.

The compound was found to enhance fatty acid oxidation and contributed to

the regulation of hepatic lipid metabolism. These findings suggest that

9-oxo-octadecadienoic acid has anti- dyslipidemia affects and can therefore

help prevent vascular diseases.

" Finding a compound which helps the prevention of obesity-related chronic

diseases in foodstuffs is a great advantage to tackling these diseases " ,

concluded Kawada. " It means that the tomato allows people to easily manage

the onset of dyslipidemia through their daily diet. "

Source: Wiley-Blackwell

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