Positive Health Online

Abstract

SESSO and co-workers, Division of Preventive Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham & Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215-1204, USA, hsesso@hsph.harvard.edu, have investigated the levels of lycopene, retinol and other carotenoids in connection with the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Background

Emerging evidence suggests that lycopene, the main pigment of tomatoes, may help prevent cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to quantify plasma lycopene levels and cardiovascular disease.

Methodology

In this prospective, nested case-control study, baseline blood samples were collected in participants of the Physician's Health Study. Over a period of 2.1 years, 499 cases of cardiovascular disease were matched with an equal number of healthy controls. Plasma carotenoids, retinol, lipids, and C-reactive protein were compared.

Results

There were no associations between plasma lycopene levels, or any carotenoid levels, and relative risks of cardiovascular disease.

Conclusion

In this study of older men, lycopene had no protective effect against cardiovascular disease.

References

Sesso HD, Buring JE, Norkus EP, Gaziano JM. Plasma lycopene, other carotenoids, and retinol and the risk of cardiovascular disease in men. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 81 (5): 990-997, May 2005.