People who eat large amounts of tomato may enjoy massive protection against stroke, researchers reported last night.
The difference in risk of stroke between tomato-haters and those who consume it on every possible occasion is as much as two times, according to a Finnish study.
The findings come from research on more than middle-aged 1,000 men in Lapland over a period of 12 years, reported in the journal Neurology.
Researchers measured tomato consumption by the amount of the chemical lycopene found in the blood. The anti-oxidant chemical is found in large quantities in tomatoes.
The study found that out of 258 men with low levels of the chemical some 25 had a stroke while 11 out of the 259 with the highest levels suffered a stroke.
The researchers studied other antioxidants, such as beta-carotene, but found no link with stroke.
Although the findings are stark, they may indicate the impact of a low vegetable diet in the region.
Researcher Dr Jouni Karppi, of the University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, said: "This study adds to the evidence that a diet high in fruits and vegetables is associated with a lower risk of stroke.
"The results support the recommendation that people get more than five servings of fruits and vegetables a day, which would likely lead to a major reduction in the number of strokes worldwide, according to previous research."
Neurology October 8 2012
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