No abstract

Background: Higher intake of the dietary carotenoid lycopene may be beneficial for heart disease. A main source of lycopene is processed tomato products, which are high in sodium. Increased dietary sodium intake is a primary reason for heart failure (HF) exacerbation and may counter the positive effects of lycopene. Purpose: To determine whether lycopene intake stratified by sodium intake predicts event-free survival. Methods: Detailed 4-day food diaries were kept by 149 HF pts (age 60 ± 12, 38% female). A registered dietitian reviewed the diaries with pt to verify serving sizes and preparation methods. Nutrient analysis was performed using Nutrition Data System software ™ . Pts were stratified into 2 groups by sodium intake based on the median of 2913 mg. Outcomes were then compared in these strata by 2 groups of lycopene intake formed by the median intake of the sample (2624 mcg). Kaplan Meier and Cox regression survival techniques were used to detect differences in event-free survival (survival free of HF or cardiac hospitalization) between lycopene groups in the 2 sodium strata. Results: High lycopene compared to low lycopene intake was associated with greater event free survival. (p=.012, figure ). This finding held in both sodium strata, although the best event-free survival was in the high lycopene group with the low sodium intake (p=.019). High lycopene intake was a predictor of event-free survival after controlling for age, gender, NYHA and EF (p=.014). Conclusion: These findings suggest the naturally occurring antioxidant lycopene has the potential for substantial impact on event free survival rates in HF pts, but its positive effect is attenuated by high sodium intake.