Study: Lycopene May Lower Stroke Risk

Men with higher blood levels of a chemical found in tomatoes may have a lower risk of stroke, a new study suggests. The study included more than 1,000 men. Their ages were 46 to 65 when the study began. Researchers measured their blood levels of lycopene, which is found in tomatoes and some other foods. During an average 12 years of follow-up, 67 men had a stroke. Men with the highest lycopene levels were less than half as likely to have a stroke as those with the lowest levels. Lycopene is an antioxidant. Antioxidants consume harmful free radicals in the body. But the researchers found no link between stroke rates and other antioxidants, such as beta-carotene. The journal Neurology published the study. HealthDay News wrote about it October 8.