Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of human mortality worldwide. Oxidative stress and inflammation are pathophysiological processes involved in the development of CVD. That is why bioactive food ingredients, including lycopene, are so important in their prevention, which seems to be a compound increasingly promoted in the diet of people with cardiovascular problems. Lycopene present in tomatoes and tomato products is responsible not only for their red color but also for health-promoting properties. It is characterized by a high antioxidant potential, the highest among carotenoid pigments. Mainly for this reason, epidemiological studies show a number of favorable properties between the consumption of lycopene in the diet and a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. While there is also some controversy in research into its protective effects on the cardiovascular system, growing evidence supports its beneficial role for the heart, endothelium, blood vessels, and health. The mechanisms of action of lycopene are now being discovered and may explain some of the contradictions observed in the literature. This review aims to present the current knowledge in recent years on the preventive role of lycopene cardiovascular disorders.

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AbstractŻochowska-Kujawska J., Lachowicz K., Sobczak M., Bienkiewicz G., Tokarczyk G., Kotowicz M., Machcińska E. (2016): Compositional characteristics and nutritional quality of European beaver (Castor fiber L.) meat and its utility for sausage production. Czech J. Food Sci., 34: 87-92.The composition of European beaver (Castor fiber L.) meat and its utility for sausage production were investigated. Beaver meat has a high concentration of protein (21.44% wet weight) with the high content of available lysine (1.97 g/100 g) and tryptophan (0.29 g/100 g). The fat (5.08%) was characterised by a generally high proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids (35%) and lower proportion of monounsaturated fatty acids (29%). Octadecenoic acid (C18:1) was a dominant monounsaturated fatty acid. Beaver muscles were characterised by generally small muscle fibres, thick perimysium and low amount of intramuscular fat, thus this raw material may be used in sausage production as an alternative to pork. The most positive effects of beaver meat addition on the texture and palatability of sausages were obtained when about 20-40% of this kind of meat was used.