Nutritional Advice El MondoObjectives:
Does higher lycopene exposure decrease risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD)?
Study design:
This review article included 14 observational studies.
Subgroup analyses showed that retrospective and low quality studies were statistically significant sources of heterogeneity.
Results and conclusions:
The investigators found higher lycopene exposure significantly reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases with 17% [pooled risk ratio = 0.83, 95% CI = 0.76-0.90]. Findings were similar restricting to dietary studies [RR = 0.87, 95% CI = 0.79-0.96] and biomarker studies [RR = 0.74, 95% CI = 0. 62-0.87].
The investigators found higher dietary lycopene intake significantly reduced risk of coronary heart disease with 13% [RR = 0.87, 95% CI = 0.76-0.98]. However, the reduced risk was not significant for higher lycopene biomarker concentrations.
The investigators found higher dietary lycopene intake significantly reduced risk of stroke with 17% [RR = 0.83, 95% CI = 0.69-0.96].
The investigators found higher lycopene biomarker concentrations significantly reduced risk of stroke with 35% [RR = 0.65, 95% CI = 0.42-0.87].
The investigators concluded both higher dietary lycopene intake and higher lycopene biomarker concentrations are inversely associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular diseases. Further well-designed randomized clinical trials are required to assess the role of lycopene on cardiovascular diseases.
Original title:
Lycopene and risk of cardiovascular diseases: A meta-analysis of observational studies by Song B, Liu K, […], Xu Y.
Link:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28318092
Additional information of El Mondo:
Find more information/studies on cardiovascular diseases and lycopene right here.
Lycopene is a carotenoid and is responsible for the yellow colour in tomatoes. Carotenoids are antioxidants.