Cherry Tomato Supplementation Reduces Cardiovascular Risk

Abstract

Tomatoes are rich in nutrients and have many beneficial advantages on human health. Four cherry tomato supplementation diets (CTSDs) were prepared from the juice and cake of fresh and processed (heat-treated) cherry tomatoes. Rats were fed CTSDs for 28 days and the changes in health indices in the serum were analyzed. CTSDs significantly decreased (P < 0.05) food efficiency ratio compared with the control. CTSD feeding significantly increased (P < 0.05) the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level compared with the control, which resulted in a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in coronary artery risk index and atherogenic index. Furthermore, CTSD feeding increased serum serotonin level. These results indicate that CTSD shows antihyperlipidemic effect.