title: Effects of lycopene on the initial state of atherosclerosis in New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lycopene is the main carotenoid in tomatoes, where it is found in high concentrations. Strong epidemiological evidence suggests that lycopene may provide protection against cardiovascular diseases. We therefore studied the effects of lycopene on diet-induced increase in serum lipid levels and the initiation of atherosclerosis in New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The animals, divided into four groups of 9 animals each, were fed either a standard diet, a high-cholesterol diet containing 0.5% cholesterol, a high-cholesterol diet containing placebo beadlets, or a high-cholesterol diet plus 5 mg/kg body weight/day of lycopene (in the form of lycopene beadlets), for a period of 4 weeks. We found significantly elevated lycopene plasma levels in the animal group treated with lycopene beadlets. Compared to the high-cholesterol and the placebo group, this was associated with a significant reduction of 50% in total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol serum levels in the lycopene group. The amount of cholesteryl ester in the aorta was significantly decreased by lycopene. However, we did not observe a significant decrease in the extent of aortic surface lipid accumulation in the lycopene group. In addition, no differences in the intima-media thickness among groups were observed. Endothelial-dependent and endothelial-independent vasodilation in isolated rabbit aortic and carotid rings did not differ among any of the animal groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lycopene supplementation for 4 weeks increased lycopene plasma levels in the animals. Although we found strongly reduced total and LDL cholesterol serum levels as well as significantly lower amounts of cholesteryl ester in the aortae in the lycopene-treated group, no significant differences in initial lesions in the aortae were detected.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik für Kardiologie und Angiologie, Campus Mitte, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lorenz
authors.forename: Mandy
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fechner
authors.forename: Janine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kalkowski
authors.forename: Kati
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fröhlich
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Trautmann
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Böhm
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Liebisch
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lehneis
authors.forename: Gerd
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schmitz
authors.forename: Antje
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ludwig
authors.forename: Gert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Baumann
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stangl
authors.forename: Verena
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Stangl
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002788:Cholesterol Esters / Q000378:metabolism; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D000077276:Lycopene; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D002788:Cholesterol Esters; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D002338:Carotenoids; D000077276:Lycopene