Does tomato pigment stop bad cholesterol from getting damaged?
Does lycopene offer human LDL any protection against myeloperoxidase activity?
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Lycopene reacted with myeloperoxidase products in solvent but failed to protect LDL particles.
Prior research (e.g., Pennathur et al. 2010) suggested lycopene could scavenge hypochlorous acid—a myeloperoxidase product. This study contradicts that by showing no protective effect in the actual target system.
Practical Takeaways
Don’t rely on lycopene supplements for heart protection—focus on whole foods, exercise, and managing inflammation instead.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Lycopene reacted with myeloperoxidase products in solvent but failed to protect LDL particles.
Prior research (e.g., Pennathur et al. 2010) suggested lycopene could scavenge hypochlorous acid—a myeloperoxidase product. This study contradicts that by showing no protective effect in the actual target system.
Practical Takeaways
Don’t rely on lycopene supplements for heart protection—focus on whole foods, exercise, and managing inflammation instead.
Publication
Journal
Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry
Year
2011
Authors
Poh Yeong Chew, L. Riley, D. L. Graham, K. Rahman, G. Lowe
Related Content
Claims (2)
Eating foods rich in lycopene, like tomatoes, may help protect your blood vessels by mopping up harmful molecules that cause damage, which could keep plaque from building up in your arteries.
Even though lycopene (a red pigment in tomatoes) can soak up harmful chemicals in a test tube, it didn’t stop those same chemicals from damaging bad cholesterol in a lab experiment—so it didn’t work as a shield here.