RESUMO
In this work the effect of consumption of tree tomato juice (Cypho-mandra betacea) was evaluated on nutritional and biochemical parameters in 54 volunteers (44 women and 10 men) aged 45 ±8 years-Ecuador. A nutritional and biochemical evaluation was performed in volunteers; then they were invited to drink tree tomato juice (IOOg of fruit in 150 ml of water) daily for 6 weeks. Finished these 6 weeks, volunteers were nutritional and biochemical evaluated again. 67% abdominal obesity was found, decreasing at 53% after drinking the established dosage of juice. 87% of the volunteers before treatment, showed -hypercholesterolemia, 40.7% and 46.3% had hypertriglyceridemia and elevated LDL, respectively and 18.5% glucose concentrations between 98-130 mg/dL. These values decrease significantly in this group after drinking tomato juice. In ge- neral, Total Cholesterol, LDL and glucose concentrations decrease significantly after drinking tree tomato juice in all the voluntaries with or without overweight. There is no change in HDL concentrations. The consumption of tree tomato juice did not affect the activity of alanine aminotransferase or aspartate aminotransferase enzymes either creatinine, urea and uric acid concentrations, neither blood pressure suggesting that does not affect renal or liver function. These results indicate that consumption of tree tomato juice for six weeks appears to have a lipid-lowering and modulating effect on glucose metabolism, suggesting C betacea as one of the high Andean fruits nutraceutical potential. However, this issue should be investigated in more detail.
