Dietary lycopene is negatively associated with abdominal aortic calcification in US adults: a cross-sectional study

Diets that promote the consumption of foods rich in lycopene may make an individual less likely to have a calcified abdominal aorta.

This study was conducted to confirm the protective effects of high lycopene diet against abdominal aortic calcification (AAC). The study population included 2,897 US adults who took part in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

Researchers identified a favorable association between increased consumption of lycopene-containing foods and reduced incidence of severe abdominal aortic calcification. "Therefore, a high intake of diet-derived lycopene may help prevent severe AAC," the authors concluded.