Abstract

The increase in the plasma level of lycopene following the drinking of tomato juice is a valid biomarker reflecting lowering in the oxidative stress and improving glycemic control among patients with type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2 DM).
The aim of the study is to characterize the overall health of a small sample of typical patients with type 2 DM and to test the effectiveness of dietary intervention with tomato juice against the oxidative stress of diabetes.
Design: The study consisted of 29 diabetic men and women with mean age of 61 years and median duration of diabetes of 12 years. Blood samples were collected for biochemical analysis of 14 blood biomarkers. The participants were then divided into two groups, one arm served as control and the second received daily 240 ml of thermally treated tomato juice providing 22 mg of lycopene. At days zero and at the end of the 3 week dietary intervention, blood samples were collected for HPLC measurement of plasma carotenoids and retinol concentrations.
Results: The fasting plasma glucose (FPG) concentrations of 46.7 % of the diabetic men and 40% of the diabetic women were ≤ 7.0 implying good management. The use of HbA1c as criteria of good control of glycemic index, 78.6 % of the diabetic men and 88.9% of the diabetic women were presented with poorly glycemic control. Prevalences of obesity (BMI > 30 kg/ m2) accounted for 44 % and 87.5% among the diabetic men and women, respectively. Prevalences of total cholesterol high density lipoprotein ratio above the acceptable upper limit were 33.3 and 25 % among diabetic men and women, respectively. Prevalences of hyper triglyceridemia were 69.2 and 60% among the diabetic men and women, respectively. After the 3 week dietary intervention with thermally treated tomato juice, plasma lycopene concentration increased on average by 161% fold excess over the respective baseline level, reflecting lowering in the oxidative stress and improving glycemic control of T2 DM pathogenesis. The preliminary data recommends the regular intakes of tomato lycopene rich diets as a safe adjunct to glucose-lowering drugs among diabetics with poor glycaemic control and with increased levels of oxidative stress biomarkers.