by Alan Young
Aberdeen scientists have made what is being
hailed as a multi-million-pound breakthrough
which can cut deaths from heart disease and
strokes – using the humble tomato.
ProfessorAsim Dutta-Roy MD,PhD and his team at the Rowett Research Institute have discovered what they are
calling the tomato factor – a component which could
help to reduce the formation of blood clots.
A new company has been formed to develop the
discovery in capsule form – perhaps replacing drugs
such as Asprin which can have side-affects.
Scientists who have been working on the project for
three years have named the new component P3.
Prof Dutta-Roy, 43, who has patented the discovery,
said yesterday it was a major development in the
treatment and prevention of heart disease –
Scotland's biggest killer.
The Rowett has joined forces with Angle Technology
of Guildford, Surrey, to form Nutrition Enhancement
Ltd which will develop and market the discovery. It
could be produced by the end of this year.
Tests on 19 healthy people have gone well and
further clinical trials are planned for the end of the
year.
Prof Dutta-Roy said P3 – the yellow juice around
tomato seeds – was also in strawberries, grapefruit,
and melons, but was most effective in tomatoes.
Fruit and vegetables are known to help reduce the
risk of heart disease and strokes, but until now itwas
attributed to antioxidants such as vitamin C or
Lycopene.
Tomatoes could also be a further reason why the
Mediterranean diet is linked to lower death rates from heart disease.
P3 stops platelet cells in the blood clinging together to form blood clots.
Prof Dutta-Roy said: "It would benefit everybody.
"It could be an alternative to Asprin. Drug companies
have been spending billions to find an anti-platelet
drug without side effects.
"Heart attacks, strokes, and blood vessel problems
resulting from thrombosis currently kill or disable more people in developed countries than any other
disease."
Prof Dutta-Roy also pointed out: "In France, people
smoke, but they don't have many heart problems
compared with Scotland – probably because they
consume much more tomatoes than we do here."
Tests with as few as four tomatoes showed P3
reduced platelet activity by up to 72% – and as the
affect was temporary, it did not cause bleeding,
which is sometimes associated with other treatments.
The Scottish Office-funded Rowett was only able to
announce the discovery yesterday because of the
patent – and it immediately sparked interest from
scientists and companies.
"I have had a lot of phone calls today," said Prof
Dutta-Roy, who originally comes from Calcutta and
trained in thrombosis research at Tampa University in
Florida.
"A lot of companies are interested."
The research team is now looking at ways to turn P3
into a capsule as well as finding out how many
tomatoes would be required for each dose.
Although much of the research used imported
tomatoes, Prof Dutta-Roy said Scottish tomatoes
were just as good. "The ones I grew at home also
worked."
The British Heart Foundation welcomed the discovery
of P3 but said it would require more details before
hailing it as a major breakthrough.
Spokesman Paul Faucett said it was a potentially very
exciting discovery.
"Many lives have already been saved as a result of
anti-platelet drugs. Perhaps the discovery of P3 could lead the way to new approaches to control blood
clots with potentially fewer side affects.
"This is yet more evidence to persuade us all to eat
five portions of fruit and vegetables every day."
Aberdeen North Labour MP Malcolm Savidge
congratulated Prof Dutta-Roy and his team.
He said: "We must hope, given the tragically high
incidents of diet related ill-health in the North and
North-east that people will seek a healthier diet –
including eating more tomatoes and drinking more
tomato juice."