Effects of Lycopene on the Susceptibility of Low-Density Lipoproteins to Oxidative Modification

The intake of antioxidants intake has been reported to be inversely associated with the incidence of coronary artery disease. To clarify the possible role of lipophilic antioxidants in prevention of atherosclerosis, we investigated the effects of lycopene on the susceptibility of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) to oxidative modification. In this study, “lycopene” was added to plasma and incubated for 3 h at 37°C. Then, the LDL fraction was separated by ultracentrifugation. The oxidizability of LDL was estimated by measuring conjugated dienes (CD), lipid peroxides and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) after addition of cupric sulfate solution.We showed that lycopene significantly (P<0.01 by ANOVA) and dose-dependently prolonged the lag time before the initiation of oxidation reaction. Also, it suppressed the formation of lipid peroxides and TBARS more markedly than the control. LDL exposed to lycopene in vitro reduced oxidizability. These findings raise the possibility that lycopene has a role in ameliorating atherosclerosis.