Tomatoes found to contain nutrient which prevents vascular diseases

Wiley-Blackwell ^ | January 6, 2011 | Unknown

[decimon]

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."

[decimon]

Dyslipidemia ping.

[DannyTN]

Is the compound also found in ketchup, spagetti sauce and pizza sauce?

If so, I’m good. That’s all I need to know.

[Wooly]

Before you start eating your Tomato-A-Day program, remember Lycopene? After reviewing the Harvard study it was found that in order to get enough Lycopene to do anything you would have to eat something near 100 pounds per day.

[Will88]

Not really, fresh tomatoes were never a good source of lycopene, but rather cooked forms of tomatoes like ketchup, tomato sauce and tomato paste, etc. Cooking releases or makes the lycopene more available.

And I wonder how this new exract might be related to lycopene as lycopene is believed to have cardiovascular benefits, also.

[Free Vulcan]

Garden ping?

[Red_Devil 232]

I will put a link to this thread on tomrrows Gardening Thread.

[Trajan88]

for later.

[Coleus]

it was found that in order to get enough Lycopene to do anything you would have to eat something near 100 pounds per day. >>

that's why there are vitamin stores all over America and is a $70 billion a year industry...I take it every day with olive oil as it is oil soluble.

the same can be said for vitamin-c and vitamin-e... in order to get a therapeutic dose of vitamin c, you would have to eat dozens of oranges a day...

[Wooly]

It is a 70 billion dollar industry because people want to believe that they need to take extra amounts of vitamins, because the food we eat is processed or that large amounts of one vitamin can prevent you from getting something. For every study that show a vitamin or mineral preventing something I can find at least two other long term controlled studies that show the claim untrue. Garlic, Vitamin C, Selenium, lycopene, vitamin E, non prescription calcium, Ginko and several others have all been found to be worthless when take in excess. Same goes for detox and other fad snake oil remedies.

[Coleus]

great, so don’t take them...and eat 100 lbs. of tomatoes to get your lycopene and sit outside to get your vitamin-d...