Protective effect of lycopene in cardiovascular disease.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) represents the primary cause of death in Western Countries with an high incidence on human health and community social costs. Oxidative stress in- duced by reactive oxygen species (ROS) plays an important role in the aetiology of this disease. In particular, the LDL-oxidization has a key role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and cardio- vascular heart diseases through the initiation of plaque formation process. Dietary phytochemical products such antioxidant vitamins (A,C,E) and bioactive food components (alpha- and beta- carotene) have shown an antioxidant effect in re- ducing both oxidative markers stress and LDL-ox- idization process. Scientifical evidences support the beneficial roles of phytochemicals in the pre- vention of some chronic diseases. Lycopene, an oxygenated carotenoid with great antioxidant properties, has shown both in epidemiological studies and supplementation human trials a re- duction of cardiovascular risk. However, con- trolled clinical trials and dietary intervention stud- ies using well-defined subjects population haven't been provided a clear evidence of lycopene in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. The pre- sent short review aims to evaluate the beneficial effect of lycopene in the prevention of cardiovas- cular disease.