Tomatoes for Type 2 Diabetes?
Iranian researchers witnessed a supportive effect of tomatoes on several blood markers in type 2 diabetes patients.
Tomatoes are rich sources of several nutrients, including lycopene and beta-carotene. But the benefit of consuming tomatoes may even extend into type 2 diabetes management, according to research published in the International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition.
Iranian researchers tested this theory in assigning 32 type 2 diabetes patients to consume 200 g of raw tomato daily for eight weeks. Blood markers, including glucose, homocysteine, apolipoprotein, and blood pressure, were measured at baseline and at eight weeks.
Compared to baseline scores, systolic and diastolic blood pressure significantly decreased at eight weeks. Another notable change was an increase in apolipoproteinA-1, a main constituent of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (commonly referred to as “good cholesterol”).
Such changes in blood markers left the researchers to conclude that tomato consumption had “a favored effect” and “might be beneficial for reducing cardiovascular risk associated with type 2 diabetes.”
The study abstract can be read here.
