The Effect of Processed Tomato Products on CVD Risks

The Effect of Processed Tomatoes on Endothelium- and Platelet- Function

The primary working hypothesis is that consuming processed tomatoes frequently/daily will favorably improve endothelium and platelet function disease-risk biomarker profiles in adult men and women compared to consuming no or relatively low amounts of processed tomatoes.

Inclusion Criteria:

men and women (>21 <70 years) nonsmokers, with a body mass index (BMI) ranging of 25 to 35 kg/m2, BP < or = 140/90 mmHg

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Total cholesterol (TC) is greater than 300 mg/dL;
2. Fasting triglyceride is greater than 300 mg/dL;
3. LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) is greater than 180 mg/dL;
4. Female subjects who are pregnant or lactating;
5. Subjects who are actively losing weight or trying to lose weight;
6. Subjects with known allergy or intolerance to tomato products;
7. taking any medications that would interfere with outcomes of the study, ie. lipid lowering medications, anti-inflammatory drugs, dietary supplements, such as fish oil or evening primrose;
8. subjects' with documented atherosclerotic disease, inflammatory disease, diabetes mellitus, uncontrolled hypertension (>=140/90 mm Hg - ok if controlled below this limit with medication), or other systemic diseases;
9. subjects with low hematological counts as determined by >or <15% the upper or lower cut-off values of normal established for the lab;
10. Smokers. -