Tomato extracts help keep those arteries unblocked

Cardiovascular health is said to be much improved with a new food ingredient based on carotenoids extracted from tomatoes.

Lyc-O-Mato from Israeli company LycoRed contains phytoene and phytofluene, which are claimed to inhibit the progression of atherosclerosis, a serious degenerative disease in which deposits of fat cause the walls of arteries to thicken.

"The investigation into phytoene and phytofluene as effective antioxidants in their own right is a logical outgrowth of LycoRed's extensive research on Lyc-O-Mato, a natural tomato extract, whose effectiveness is based upon the synergy between lycopene, phytoene, phytofluene, beta-carotene and tocopherols," says Zohar Nir, who is responsible for new product development and scientific affairs at LycoRed.

Clinical studies claim to have demonstrated Lyc-O-Mato's role in reducing blood pressure and inhibiting the LDL (bad cholesterol) oxidation that is linked to heart disease. The roles of phytoene and phytofluene are said to be essential to its efficacy.