Scientists from the Tokyo Medical and Dental University found that regular consumption of tomato juice can significantly reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. The study results were published on the scientific portal PubMed.
A total of 481 residents of Kuriyama City participated in the study. Over the course of a year, they were asked to drink their desired amount of tomato juice. As a result, 94 participants with prehypertension or hypertension experienced a significant reduction in blood pressure, with systolic pressure decreasing from 141.2 to 137.0 mmHg and mean diastolic pressure dropping from 83.3 to 80.9 mmHg.
In another 125 volunteers, the level of ‘bad’ cholesterol decreased from 155.0 to 149.9 mg/dL. Moreover, this beneficial effect was observed regardless of the participants’ age or gender.
The researchers noted that the volunteers’ lifestyles remained largely unchanged over the course of a year, suggesting that tomato juice played a key role in improving health outcomes. Scientists suggest that tomato juice could be an affordable and effective way to prevent cardiovascular disease, as it helps reduce two major risk factors: high blood pressure and atherosclerosis caused by excess cholesterol.