title: Lack of effects of tomato products on endothelial function in human subjects: results of a randomised, placebo-controlled cross-over study.
abstract: Epidemiological studies suggest that consumption of tomato products reduces the risk of CVD via antioxidant, hypocholesterolaemic and anti-inflammatory mechanisms. Although experimental data also describe beneficial effects on endothelial function, clinical data in human subjects are lacking. To test the hypothesis that tomato ingestion ameliorates endothelial function, we randomised healthy non-smoking postmenopausal women to consume a buttered roll with and without tomato purée (70 g) in a cross-over design. Endothelial-dependent flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and endothelial-independent nitro-mediated dilation of the brachial artery were assessed with high-resolution ultrasound (13 MHz linear array transducer). Acute (24 h) and long-term (7 d) effects were examined after daily consumption of the described meal. Nineteen volunteers completed the protocol and provided technically suitable ultrasound measurement data. Plasma lycopene levels increased from 0·30 (sem 0·04) (baseline) to 0·42 (sem 0·04) and to 0·74 (sem 0·06) μm after 24 h and 7 d, respectively, with tomato purée consumption. These data indicated an effective absorption of the tomato product. However, both acute and long-term tomato purée consumption had no effects on endothelium-dependent or -independent dilation of the brachial artery. In addition, we found no correlation between lycopene plasma levels and FMD. In conclusion, consumption of tomato products associated with a significant increase in plasma lycopene levels had no effects on endothelial function in healthy postmenopausal women.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik für Kardiologie und Angiologie, Campus Mitte, Charité - Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany. verena.stangl@charite.de
authors.forename: Verena
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Stangl
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kuhn
authors.forename: Sonja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hentschel
authors.forename: Nicoline
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jochmann
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jacob
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Böhm
authors.forename: Kati
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fröhlich
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gericke
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lorenz
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000097:blood; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004032:Diet; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077276:Lycopene; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D002338:Carotenoids; D000077276:Lycopene