A study has found that men with high levels of lycopene in the blood have a 55 percent lower risk of suffering a stroke, compared to those with lower levels, reports woman-talk.com.
Scientists of the University of Eastern Finland have found that lycopene may reduce the ability of LDL ("bad") cholesterol to form plugs in the arteries, which can cause heart attacks and strokes, according to researchers.
They monitored the health of one thousand and thirty men in Finland between the ages of 46 to 65 years during a 12-year period. During this time, 67 men suffered a stroke.
Researchers measured the levels of lycopene in the blood of all men and divided them into four nearly equal groups based on this parameter.
Of the 258 men with the lowest lycopene levels, 25 suffered a stroke, while only 11 of the 259 with the highest level had one.
Lycopene has also other properties, which suggests that it is very beneficial for the cardiovascular system, the researchers said.
Lycopene is the substance by means of which vegetables and fruit become red. Tomatoes are the product with the highest concentration of it.
