Background: Results from observational studies suggest that the oxidative stress and hyperlipidemic status, which prevails in hypertension, plays an important role in causation of secondary complications. So the aim of the present study is to evaluate the beneficial effect of tomatoes, which are a rich source of lycopene, a relatively new carotenoid known to play an important role in human health and disease. Methods: In this study lipid peroxidation rate was measured by estimating malondialdehyde (MDA) and the activity of plasma enzymes involved in antioxidant activities like superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione reductase (GR), reduced glutathione (GSH), and serum lipid profile which includes total cholesterol and triglycerides were estimated in a grade I hypertensive group (n = 40) and an age-matched control group (n = 50). Results: Significantly lower plasma antioxidant enzyme activity, very high lipid peroxidation rate and very high serum total cholesterol, triglycerides in the grade I hypertensive group was observed when compared to the control group (p < 0.001). Sixty days of tomato supplementation in the hypertensive group (n = 30) showed a significant improvement in the levels of serum enzymes involved in antioxidant activities and decreased lipid peroxidation rate (F value highly significant), but there were no significant changes in lipid profile (F value insignificant). Conclusion: These findings suggest that tomato lycopene may have considerable natural therapeutic potential as an antioxidant but may not be used as a hypolipidemic agent in hypertension.

Keywords:
Lycopene, Antioxidants, Lipid peroxidation, Oxidative stress, Grade I hypertension
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© 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel
2007
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