Good Cholesterol from Genetically Engineered Tomatoes

Scientists from ULCA have revealed that genetically altered tomatoes, when consumed produce a peptide which imitates the work of good cholesterol. The team genetically altered the tomatoes to produce a small peptide which imitates the action of the chief protein in high-density lipoprotein, or apoA-1.

A test was conducted on mice which were allowed to eat genetically engineered tomatoes. These mice did not have the ability to take out low-density lipoprotein from their blood.

The experiment revealed that mice that ate the peptide-enhanced tomatoes portrayed markedly lower levels of inflammation, increased levels of good cholesterol, and decreased lysophosphatidic acid, which fastens the build-up of plaque in arteries.

“It seems likely that the mechanism of action of the peptide-enhanced tomatoes involves altering lipid metabolism in the intestine, which positively impacts cholesterol,” said the scientists.



Source-Medindia