A recent study, published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, confirms the beneficial effect that eating tomatoes has on blood pressure. The rigorous methodology of the study showed that eating more than 110 grams of tomatoes per day, equivalent to one large tomato, reduces the risk of high blood pressure by 36% in people who were not hypertensive.
It also reduces blood pressure in people with hypertension. This effect of tomatoes is especially effective in patients with mild hypertension. This finding opens up the possibility of reducing the need for medication in this group.
This study was carried out as part of the PREDIMED trial of 7,447 participants aged 55-80 years from 11 Spanish primary care centres. The participants were volunteers with risk factors such as diabetes, high blood pressure, smoking, high cholesterol and obesity, but without any established cardiovascular disease. Blood pressure figures and new diagnoses of hypertension were studied in these people with a 3-year follow-up.
The study data was obtained through validated questionnaires administered by dieticians. They classified the amount of tomato consumed per day (raw, in sauce or in soups such as gazpacho).
One of the most popular vegetables
Tomatoes are one of the most consumed vegetables in the world. They form part of the Mediterranean diet, which has proven to be very good in preventing cardiovascular problems. Tomatoes are 95% water, but also contain carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, minerals, vitamins, carotenoids and polyphenols. The most abundant carotenoid is lycopene.
Researchers suspect that the presence of lycopene, a compound found in tomatoes, may be responsible for the effect on blood pressure. It acts at a molecular level in a similar way to some antihypertensive drugs and other substances with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antithrombotic properties. Approximately 85% of the lycopene in our diet comes from tomatoes.
Incidence of high blood pressure
High blood pressure is the most common cardiovascular risk factor in our environment and a major public health problem worldwide. A healthy lifestyle, which includes a diet rich in fruit and vegetables, is recommended for preventing cardiovascular problems.
Previous studies provided indications that tomatoes could be beneficial for the prevention and treatment of high blood pressure, but this had not been confirmed through studies in the population until now.
In conclusion, it has been shown that eating tomatoes and derivative products in the form of sauce or soup, such as gazpacho, acts favourably in the prevention and control of high blood pressure. It also has the advantage of being a significant part of the popular Mediterranean diet.
INFORMATION DOCUMENTED BY:
Dr Carles Falces, Cardiology Department at Hospital Clínic Barcelona.
