Lycopene, the red pigment in tomatoes and watermelon, reduces cholesterol levels and improves blood pressure.
Lycopene is a naturally occurring antioxidant compound that gives tomatoes, watermelon, and other red or pink fruits and vegetables their characteristic colors. Evidence suggests that lycopene intake reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease and provides protection against prostate cancer. A 2010 meta-analysis found that lycopene reduces cholesterol levels and improves blood pressure.
High cholesterol levels and elevated blood pressure often go hand-in-hand and are among the primary contributors to cardiovascular disease and stroke risk. Although a vast array of drugs is available for the treatment of high cholesterol and blood pressure, many of these drugs carry unwanted side effects and risks, including an increased risk for type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer
The investigators conducted a meta-analysis, a type of study that analyzes data from several studies using objective, statistical formulas to identify a common effect. Their analysis included studies that examined the effects of lycopene on cholesterol or blood pressure for at least two weeks' duration. They also investigated whether dose influenced the effects of lycopene on cholesterol and whether the participants' baseline blood pressure influenced the response to lycopene.
They identified 12 studies that investigated the effects of lycopene on cholesterol and four that investigated its effects on blood pressure. Lycopene doses used in the various studies ranged from 4 to 44 milligrams per day. Study durations typically lasted two to six weeks, but one trial lasted six months. They found that doses of at least 25 milligrams per day (roughly the amount in one-half cup of sundried tomatoes) reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) by about 10 percent, comparable to the effects of a low-dose statin, a commonly used class of cholesterol-lowering drugs. They also found that lycopene reduced systolic blood pressure by approximately 5 mmHg. This effect was observed in participants who had high blood pressure but not in those whose blood pressure was normal.
These findings suggest that lycopene reduces cholesterol and blood pressure. They also underscore the usefulness of implementing dietary approaches to treat these common conditions.
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