Abstract

TORRESANI, María Elena. Association between cardiovascular risk and lycopene consumption in pre- and post-menopausal women. ALAN [online]. 2009, vol.59, n.2, pp.120-127. ISSN 2309-5806.

This work aimed at assessing association between cardiovascular risk (CVR) and lycopene intake in pre- and post-menopausal women, as well as its correlation with LDL-C and HDL-C values and waist circumference (WC). A transversal design of comparison and correlation was carried out for independent samples. A 316 women (40-65 y) sample attending nutritional consultation at a Research Foundation for Endocrino Metabollic Diseases in Buenos Aires city (2005-2007) was randomized according to biological stage (35.8% premenopausal and 64.2% postmenopausal women). CVR was obtained based on Framingham Score and lycopene intake (source food and all lycopene containing food) according to weekly consumption frequency (mg/d and weekly/servings). Association between variables was calculated with the Student Test, Fisher Test and Pearson Correlation Coefficient (alpha significance level: 0.05). At both biological stages and for each CVR category, an inverse relationship was observed with lycopene intake, but only in pre-menopausal women with low CVR (Category III), lycopene intake was significantly greater than in those women who had moderate CVR (Category II). There was a significant correlation in postmenopausal women between LDL-C values and lycopene intake supplied by source food. However, in both biological stages a significant correlation was found between LDL-C values and all lycopene containing food consumption. No significant correlation was found between lycopene intake, HDL-C values and WC. These findings point out the relevances of a preventive nutritional approach at woman’s different biological stages

Keywords : Menopause; cardiovascular risk; antioxidants; lycopene.