JULY 28, 2011 BENEFITS OF LYCOPERSICON ESCULENTUM

"The real measure of our wealth is our worth if we lost all of our money." Anonymous

The benefits of Lycopersicon esculentum go beyond the growing and handing out to friends and family in paper bags. I am talking about the Tomato.

As I have always said I learn from patients. One of my patients happens to also be a staff nurse for many years. Her name is Joan. Joan and I met while I was the Medical Director of the Atkins Center for Complimentary Medicine. Joan is an avid reader as well as an excellent nurse. She brought me a small article in the AARP magazine entitled 'Vine-Ripened Wonder'.

We all know it is summer when we see the ripe tomatoes growing on the vine, or begin receiving tomatoes from an avid gardener/friend/family member in a brown paper bag. The article discussed the benefits of the primary nutrient in tomatoes called lycopene. Lycopene has been studied extensively for its role for prostate health. The Herbal Clip from the American Botanical Council has published several articles on the benefits for prostate health beginning in 1996. In 2004 there was another article on prostate health and lycopene. The New York Times had an article in 1995 entitled 'Tomatoes Found to reduce risk of Cancer". We do know that diets high in antioxidants such as lycopene can reduce incidence and improve outcomes of benign prostate hyperplasia, prostatitis and prostate cancer.

The article talked about reductions in LDLs (also known as bad cholesterol) when using lycopene. So Joan's question about LDL prompted me to read a little more last night. The Vine-Ripened Wonder AARP article referred to a study from Japan indicating that tomatoes prevent heart attacks by reducing LDL. I had to find this study.

I did find the Japanese study, published in 2007. The article by Silaste ML et al,"Tomato juice decreases LDL cholesterol levels and increases LDL resistance to oxidation" was published in the British Journal of Nutrition. It is not a common journal. The authors of this study did conclude that a high daily dietary intake of tomato including ketchup and tomato juice is associated with a lower level of LDL and lower total cholesterol.

But there is a problem. The AARP article also discuss another antioxidant besides lycopene that is also important. It is called 9-0x0 octadecadienoic (I dare you to pronounce this nutrient). It states it is another Japanese study. It is not from the 2007 study. I cannot find the study that mentions this other antioxidant.

More is to be revealed.

Then should I assume that the Italians have less cholesterol and LDL than the French?

Until tomorrow...