Water-Soluble Tomato Concentrate Inhibits Platelet Activation and Aggregation in Healthy Middle-Aged and Elderly Subjects

by | Oct 17, 2022 | Cardiovascular Health, Fruits and Vegetables

Written by Taylor Woosley, Staff Writer. Results of the 10-week randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled crossover trial show that WSTC increased the serum total antioxidant capacity levels (p<0.05), while attenuating platelet endogenous reactive oxygen species generation (p<0.05), and inhibiting platelet aggregation and activation (p<0.05). 

tomatoesCardiovascular diseases (CVD) are a set of heterogenous diseases of the heart and circulatory system whose underlying cause of development is often atherosclerosis1. Initiation of atherosclerosis involves three processes: atherogenic lipid deposition, pro-inflammatory conditions, and endothelial dysfunction2. Unstable atherosclerotic plaque rupture and platelet aggregation cause stenosis or occlusion of blood vessels3. When vessel integrity is challenged, platelets respond by clotting and this activation often results in the formation of an occlusive thrombus leading to myocardial infarction and stroke4.

Lifestyle factors, such as nutrition, play an important part in the etiology and treatment of CVD5. Tomatoes are a source of bioactive compounds, such as carotenoids, phenolic compounds, and dietary fiber, which have been researched for their antithrombotic properties6. Previous studies have shown that water-soluble compounds in tomatoes affect platelet proteins with platelet structure, platelet coagulation and inhibit platelet aggregation7.

Tian et al. conducted a randomized, double-blinded, crossover clinical trial to evaluate the effects of water-soluble tomato concentrate (WSTC) on oxidative stress and platelet apoptosis in middle-aged and elderly adults. Inclusion criteria included being aged 35 to 70 years with no serious vascular or hematological diseases and normal liver and kidney function. The study design consisted of two 4-week interventions separated by a washout period of 2 weeks. Subjects (n=52) were divided into two groups, with group 1 taking a placebo tablet daily and group 2 taking 150 mg/day of WSTC for 4 weeks. Afterwards, both groups experienced a two-week washout period before exchanging treatments. Then, group 2 took 150 mg/day of WSTC, and group 1 took placebo tablets for 4 weeks.

Basic information of participants was collected via a structured questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements and blood pressure were recorded at weeks 0, 4, 6, and 10. Blood samples were collected from volunteers after an overnight fast on weeks 0, 4, 6, and 10. Enzymatic methods were used to determine concentrations of LDL-C, total cholesterol (TC), and creatinine. The rate method was utilized to measure concentrations of serum alanine aminotransferase. Serum malonaldehyde (MDA) was determined by the TBA method using commercial kits. The serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC) was determined by the FRAP method. The thrombin clotting time (TT), prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), and plasma fibrinogen (Fib) estimations were also measured. A 24-h diet record from 3 consecutive days and an international physical activity questionnaire were used to monitor subjects’ eating habits and physical activities during the trial.

One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was utilized to assess the comparability of the two groups at baseline and to determine the significance of the differences between the placebo and WSTC supplementation groups after 4 weeks of intervention. Student’s t-tests for paired data were used to determine significant differences before and after WSTC or placebo supplementation in volunteers. Significant findings of the 10-week study are as follows:

  • After the 4-week intervention, WSTC supplementation significantly increased the serum TAC levels (p<0.05) and reduced the serum MDA levels (p<0.05) in healthy middle-aged and elderly adults. Additionally, significant differences in the serum TAC levels (p<0.01) and MDA levels (p<0.01) between placebo and WSTC groups were noted after intervention.
  • Circulating platelet endogenous ROS generation in subjects was significantly lower in the WSTC supplementation group after 4 weeks of supplementation compared to the placebo group (p<0.05). WSTC supplementation for 4 weeks significantly reduced platelet endogenous ROS generation in healthy middle-aged and elderly adults (p<0.01).
  • Increased circulating platelet ∆Ѱm was observed in subjects after 4 weeks of WSTC supplementation (p<0.05). Additionally, WSTC supplementation markedly attenuated the platelet PS exposure in subjects (p<0.05).
  • Compared with the placebo group, the platelet ∆Ѱm in the WSTC group was significantly higher (p<0.05) and platelet PS exposure was significantly lower (p<0.01).

Results of the study suggest that WSTC supplementation may act as a preventative approach for atherosclerotic CVD. WSTC significantly reduced levels of oxidative stress and platelet apoptosis. Limitations of the study include the inability to measure the serum levels of WSTC or its metabolites and the use of healthy middle-aged and elderly adults, with further research being needed to focus on potential changes in results for individuals with metabolic diseases.

Source: Tian, Zezhong, Kongyao Li, Die Fan, Xiaoli Gao, Xilin Ma, Yimin Zhao, Dan Zhao et al. “Water-Soluble Tomato Concentrate, a Potential Antioxidant Supplement, Can Attenuate Platelet Apoptosis and Oxidative Stress in Healthy Middle-Aged and Elderly Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Crossover Clinical Trial.” Nutrients 14, no. 16 (2022): 3374.

© 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ 4.0/).

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Posted October 17, 2022.

Taylor Woosley studied biology at Purdue University before becoming a 2016 graduate of Columbia College Chicago with a major in Writing. She currently resides in Glen Ellyn, IL.

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