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IntroductionCardiovascular (CV) diseases remain a leading global cause of death. It has been proven that the use of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) in secondary prevention reduces the CV risk, while the benefits of ASA in primary prevention have recently been debated. The aim of the study was to compare the antiplatelet effect of standardised tomato extract (STE) and ASA in hypertensive patients with high CV risk.Material and methodsThe study involved high-risk patients with arterial hypertension (AH) randomly assigned to one of two groups: group 1 included 33 patients receiving ASA and group 2 included 32 patients receiving STE. The platelet aggregation was determined using the VerifyNow analyser.ResultsAfter 4 weeks of ASA treatment in group 1, a statistically significant reduction in aspirin reaction units (ARU) was observed (p < 0.001). However, the obese subgroup using ASA (n = 18) did not reveal a significant decrease in ARU (p > 0.05). After 4 weeks of STE treatment in the obese subgroup (n = 14), significant declines in ARU by 8.6% (95% CI: –19.5 to –1.7%; p < 0.05) and in P2Y12 reaction units (PRU) by 7.5% (95% CI: –17.6 to 1.8%; p < 0.05) were observed.ConclusionsThe antiplatelet effect of STE in hypertensive patients may be weight dependent. The group with AH and obesity might have potentially benefitted from STE treatment.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and soluble form of receptor RAGE (sRAGE) concentrations as well as the AGEs/sRAGE ratio in mild (MH) and resistant (RH) hypertensive patients in comparison with normotensive individuals. We also evaluated the association between AGEs, sRAGE as well as AGEs/sRAGE ratio and circulating endothelial cells (CECs) and circulating endothelial progenitor cells (CEPCs). The MH group consisted of 30 patients, whereas 30 patients were classified for the RH group. The control group (C) included 25 normotensive volunteers. AGEs and sRAGE were measured using enzyme-linked-immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The multicolor flow cytometry was used for analysis of CECs and CEPCs. Significantly higher levels of AGEs in RH cohort were observed as compared to C cohort. Furthermore, significantly lower sRAGE levels as well as a higher AGEs/sRAGE ratio were observed between MH and RH cohorts. Significant correlations were found in the MH cohort for sRAGE and CECs, and CEPCs. The elevation of AGEs levels suggests that oxidative modification of proteins occurs in hypertension pathogenesis. The decrease in sRAGE levels and elevation of the AGEs/sRAGE ratio in MH and RH groups may suggest that hypertensive patients are less protected against the side effects of AGEs as a consequence of an insufficient competitive role of sRAGE against the AGEs-RAGE axis. Finally, it may be concluded that the level of AGEs may be an independent predictor of the condition and function of the endothelium. Furthermore, sRAGE may be classified as a potential biomarker of inflammation and endothelium dysfunction.

The results of this study show that the addition of STE to standard antihypertensive therapy improves BP control in hypertensive patients with high CV risk. This effect, together with the anti-aggregatory effect, may indicate the pleiotropic effect of tomato extract. This fact justifies further research into functional foods and gives new insights into STE as a food supplement that could have new therapeutic and prophylactic uses for the treatment of hypertensive patients with high CV risk and especially with obesity.

IntroductionArterial hypertension (HT) is one of the most common diseases around the world and constitutes a significant medical, social, and economic problem. Lifestyle changes, including adequate fruit and vegetable consumption, play an important role in controlling blood pressure (BP) and other cardiovascular risk factors.AimTo compare the influence of adding acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) or standardized tomato extract (STE) to standard hypotensive therapy on the values of arterial pressure and the daily blood pressure profiles of patients with hypertension and high cardiovascular risk.Material and methodsThe study included 65 patients with arterial hypertension and high cardiovascular risk. High-risk patients with primary hypertension were randomly allocated in a blinded fashion to one of two groups (ASA or STE). In each case, two visits were made: the first – before the treatment, and the second – after 4 weeks of treatment. During each visit, the patients underwent a clinical measurement of arterial pressure and an ambulatory blood pressure measurement (ABPM). Blood platelet aggregation was assessed using the VerifyNow analyzer.ResultsAfter 4 weeks of treatment, the blood pressure values during the day (p < 0.001), during the night (p < 0.05), and in 24-h BP profiles (p < 0.01) obtained with ABPM were significantly lower in the STE group in comparison to the ASA group. The addition of STE to standard hypotensive treatment resulted in a favorable increase in the nocturnal fall of diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (by 6.5%) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) (by 3.3%).ConclusionsThe use of STE is significant in HT patients with high total cardiovascular risk; it is associated with better BP control and improvements in the daily BP profile.