Mice that lack a protein that helps clear fat from the blood were fed a high-fat diet with a tomato compound called lycopene for 19 weeks. Their blood cholesterol and 'bad' LDL cholesterol were lower compared to mice that ate the same high-fat diet without lycopene.
See the scientific wording
In a high-fat diet-fed apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE-/-) mouse model of atherosclerosis, lycopene supplementation for 19 weeks is associated with significantly lower serum total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels compared to control mice fed the same diet without lycopene.
Correlational — new studies may shift this
ObservationalOne low-scoring study links this claim to the outcome, but causation is not established.
What the research says
1 study reviewedSupporting (1)
Cohort StudyAnimal2021
The study gave mice with a fatty diet a tomato substance called lycopene, and it reduced their bad cholesterol.
Contradicting (0)
No contradicting studies found yet
That doesn't mean it's settled — it just means no study has tested the opposite.
Quality-weighted scoring: we follow the GRADE framework — each study is rated High, Moderate, Low, or Very Low based on study design, methodology rigor, and risk of bias. A single high-quality RCT can outweigh several weaker observational studies.
Scores reflect study quality, not just count.
Lycopene, a nutrient found in tomatoes, helps lower bad cholesterol by reducing how much cholesterol the body takes in from food. It does this by slowing down the action of certain help-molecules in the gut that are responsible for cholesterol absorption. With less cholesterol entering the blood, there is less bad cholesterol and less buildup in the blood vessels.
Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting study
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Mice that lack a protein that helps clear fat from the blood were fed a high-fat diet with a tomato compound called lycopene for 19 weeks. Their blood cholesterol and 'bad' LDL cholesterol were lower compared to mice that ate the same high-fat diet without lycopene.
Mechanism
1 studyLycopene, a nutrient in tomatoes, helps lower bad cholesterol by reducing how much cholesterol the body takes in from food. It does this by slowing down the action of certain help-molecules in the gut that are responsible for cholesterol absorption. With less cholesterol entering the blood, there is less bad cholesterol and less buildup in the blood vessels.
Lycopene, a nutrient found in tomatoes, helps lower bad cholesterol by reducing how much cholesterol the body takes in from food. It does this by slowing down the action of certain help-molecules in the gut that are responsible for cholesterol absorption. With less cholesterol entering the blood, there is less bad cholesterol and less buildup in the blood vessels.
Lycopene downregulates HNF-1α expression in the small intestine.
Reduced HNF-1α leads to reduced NPC1L1 expression.
Reduced NPC1L1 inhibits intestinal cholesterol absorption.
Reduced cholesterol absorption lowers serum total cholesterol and LDL-C and raises HDL-C.
Lower serum cholesterol reduces atherosclerotic plaque formation.
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
Community contributions welcome
The study gave mice with a fatty diet a tomato substance called lycopene, and it reduced their bad cholesterol.
Contradicting (0)
Community contributions welcome
Score Breakdown
No multi-axis breakdown available yet. The overall Pro / Against score above is the best signal.
- No clinical evidence is available; the score reflects mechanistic plausibility only.
What Would Prove This
Per GRADE and EBM methodology, here is what ideal scientific evidence would look like to definitively prove or disprove this claim, ordered from strongest to weakest.
Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Lycopene Effects on Serum Lipids in ApoE-/- Mouse Models of Atherosclerosis
A systematic review that includes all randomized controlled trials (in mice) comparing lycopene-supplemented diets to control diets in ApoE-/- mice on high-fat diets, with outcomes of serum total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. Studies should be assessed for quality and heterogeneity.
Randomized Controlled Trial of Lycopene Supplementation in High-Fat Diet-Fed ApoE-/- Mice
A double-blind randomized controlled trial in ApoE-/- mice fed a high-fat diet, randomized to receive lycopene supplementation or placebo for 19 weeks, with measurements of serum total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol at the end. Mice should be age-matched, housed under identical conditions, and sample size appropriately calculated.
Replication Study with Dose-Response Assessment of Lycopene in ApoE-/- Mice
An animal model study using the same ApoE-/- mouse model with multiple doses of lycopene (e.g., low, medium, high) compared to control, fed a high-fat diet for 19 weeks, measuring serum lipid profiles to assess a dose-response relationship.