Daily tomato juice lowers inflammation markers 34%

[Guest guest]

Hi All:

Italian researchers claim a daily glass of tomato juice could lower

inflammation by over 30 per cent. In the study they used " Lyc-o-Mato "

branded juice. Not sure if this juice is supposed to have higher

carotenoids (like lycopene) than regular tomato juice or not.

Seems to me drinking any tomato juice would be cheap insurance, as I

think an 8 ounce glass is only about 50 calories.

Dave

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link and full text:

http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/news/ng.asp?n=66846 & m=1NIU404 & c=lqeudkujayvv\

lpc

Tomato juice could lower inflammation

4/4/2006- Italian researchers have reported that a daily glass of

tomato juice could lower markers for inflammation by over 30 per cent,

but has no effect on the immune system, adding to the debate as to

whether carotenoids can boost immune function.

Researchers from the University of the Milan found that a daily intake

of the commercial tomato drink, Lyc-o-Mato was linked to a drop in the

inflammatory mediator TNF-alpha by 34 per cent after six weeks of

supplementation of a normal diet.

Inflammation is linked to hardening of the walls of the arteries

(atherosclerosis), and cardiovascular disease (CVD) – the cause of

almost 50 per cent of deaths in Europe.

Tomato extract contains a mix of potent antioxidants including

lycopene, beta-carotene, vitamin E and various other phytonutrients.

The extract has been associated with lowering blood pressure and

boosting immune function, although this last claim is hotly disputed

by conflicting results.

" We report modest effects of the regular uptake of a tomato drink

providing small amounts of carotenoids on the production of

inflammatory mediators such as TNF-alpha in young healthy volunteers, "

said lead author Patrizio Riso in the Journal of Agricultural and Food

Chemistry (Vol. 54, pp. 2563-2566).

The placebo-controlled, double-blind crossover trial divided 26 young

healthy volunteers into two groups. Group one (N=13) was assigned to

the sequence placebo/wash-out/Lyc-o-Mato, while the second group was

assigned the inverse, Lyc-o-Mato/washout/placebo. People with kidney,

heart, and liver diseases, and pregnant women taking supplements, were

excluded from the study

The mediator for inflammation, TNF-alpha, and markers of immune

response, the cytokine IFN-gamma, were measured by blood sample

analysis. White blood cell DNA damage was also quantified.

After 26 days of either placebo or Lyc-o-Mato, the researchers found

that TNF-alpha levels were significantly decreased by 34 per cent

after consumption of the tomato drink. No changes were observed after

placebo.

The authors suggest that the effects of the tomato juice are due to

one of several mechanisms, including altering cytokine production, the

boosting of T-lymphocyte function, or the inhibition of arachidonic

acid metabolism that is catalysed by free radicals.

However, the appropriate compounds to support the latter mechanism

were not found in an analysis of the volunteers urine.

Interestingly, levels of IFN-gamma increased after the placebo drink,

a result that could not be explained by the researchers since the

placebo drink was formulated to appear and taste like the tomato drink

but did not contain any bioactive compounds. IFN-gamma levels after

consuming the tomato drink were unchanged, indicating that the tomato

drink had no effect on the immune system.

" These data add to the controversy of whether lycopene, and the other

carotenoids, affect immune response, " said Riso.

DNA damage was also insignificant in both groups, a result that could

have been due to the young, healthy subjects having little DNA damage

at baseline.

These results differ somewhat from other studies that have focused on

predominantly elderly populations. Some have reported increases in

immune function, and other have reported increases in inflammation

mediators due to the tomato juice.

" Further intervention trials will follow in subjects with low

carotenoid status and/or compromised immune system, " said Riso.

Israeli-company LycoRed, producers of Lyc-o-Mato, supplied the tomato

juice drink.