From Cambridge with love: A tomato pill that could help take care of your heart

On Valentine’s Day there’s always much talk of hearts and love. But looking after the health of your own heart is the best gift you can give your loved ones.

The British Heart Foundation estimates that around 7.6 million people in the UK are living with some kind of cardiovascular condition. Heart and circulatory issues such as coronary heart disease and strokes cause a quarter of all deaths in the UK, including 49,000 people under the age of 75 every year.

Interestingly, research shows the humble tomato could hold the secret to a healthier heart.

Looking after the health of your own heart is the best gift you can give your loved ones

The question as to whether tomatoes can help our hearts began when researchers realised fewer people in countries that typically ate a Mediterranean-style diet based on lots of vegetables, fruits and beans, suffered cardiovascular diseases such as strokes and heart attacks.

It was discovered that one of the key elements was their increased consumption of lycopene, an antioxidant pigment that gives tomatoes their glorious red colour.

Ateronon Heart+ contains a patented form of lycopene called LactoLycopene™, along with thiamin* and selenium**

Cooking the tomatoes with olive oil, as it’s done in the Mediterranean, makes it easier for the body to absorb the lycopene: the cooking helps to release the lycopene from the tomatoes, and the olive oil improves the absorption of this fat-soluble molecule. But eating enough cooked tomatoes in this way on a daily basis is not always possible.

Despite our best intentions, the recent National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) data shows over half of adults in the UK do not eat enough fruit and vegetables and we have a lower intake than our European neighbours.

Furthermore, as we age, oxidative stress increases in our bodies. Oxidative stress happens when too many unstable, highly reactive molecules called ‘free radicals’ build up in the body and start to attack healthy cells. It plays a crucial role in the development of age related diseases with cardiovascular diseases being the number one cause of death globally.

The importance of supporting heart health led the scientists at health nutritional supplement company, FutureYou Cambridge, to address this important issue. They understood that lycopene is difficult for the body to absorb, it’s not ‘bioavailable’.

The company developed a patented ‘Tomato Pill’ after £12 million of research with leading institutions around the world, including Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Addenbrooke’s). It uses a patented form of lycopene called LactoLycopene™ which is the key ingredient in its Ateronon Heart+ supplement.

Dr Miriam Ferrer, PhD, and head of product development at FutureYou Cambridge explains:

‘Our unique formulation is achieved by combining lycopene with whey protein, which mimics the effect of cooking tomatoes in olive oil naturally. We’ve also included thiamin* and selenium** to support a healthy heart and to provide protection from oxidative stress.

‘LactoLycopene™ is an award-winning ingredient for healthy ageing and has won awards both in Europe and the USA for its innovation.’

Each capsule contains the equivalent of eating a kilo (2.2lbs) of cooked tomatoes and contains 350mg of LactoLycopene™, providing 7mg of lycopene.

An independent scientific study at the University of Cambridge in 2014^ looked at the effect of Ateronon Heart+ supplementation in participants with stable cardiovascular disease, as well as in healthy volunteers. After 2 months daily supplementation, the flexibility of the arteries in the participants group was restored to similar levels of the healthy volunteers. This was a change of 53% compared to those who didn’t take the LactoLycopene™ supplement.

The scientific data behind LactoLycopene™ led 63-year-old Christine Dooley, a part-time ward clerk in her local hospital, to give Ateronon Heart+ a try after seeing an advertisement.

As well as LactoLycopene™ , Ateronon Heart+ contains vitamin B1 (Thiamine)* which contributes to the normal function of the heart and selenium* which  contributes to the protection of cells from oxidative stress

‘I’m proactive about my own health and being a vegetarian conscious of what I eat, but before I take any supplement I like to check that it’s backed up by science.

‘When I looked up FutureYou Cambridge I liked what I read about the LactoLycopene™.

‘I took one daily and of course I will continue with this supplement, I’m very happy with the results. And a routine blood test six months after starting Ateronon Heart+ showed my serum cholesterol had dropped by 1.6 which is another positive thing for my heart.

Christine continues ‘To be fair, I rarely leave reviews for things unless I’m really impressed with the product, but I decided to leave a TrustPilot review for this.’

Eight years since starting it, Geoff is still taking Ateronon Heart+ and he is as active as ever

Retired Agricultural Consultant, Geoff Fielding, 77, turned to Ateronon Heart+ as members of his close family suffered from poor health as they got older, including his uncle, mother and father.

‘I worked as an agricultural consultant, so I was always out and about in the countryside, and since I retired I’ve been very active. Until recently I was Chairman of the Parish Council for my village in the Malvern Hills and also the footpath officer, so every day I went out walking for four or five miles, looking after 60-65km of public rights of way.

‘I also love fell walking in the Lake District with my friends. I’ve climbed on all of the hundreds of fells in Wainwright’s eight books. Most months I’m either walking in the village with my dog or climbing with my pals.

‘I decided to take Ateronon Heart+ because of my family history. My parents both lived to a great age but had certain family health traits that are bound to come through.

‘I try to look after my cardiovascular health, as my father had a mild heart condition and my wife and I nursed him for ten years.

‘That was my motivation. It’s prompted me to keep going and do everything I can to make sure I don’t become an old man with health problems.’

Eight years on Geoff is still taking Ateronon Heart+ and he’s still as active as ever.

‘I haven’t gone down with any heart problems yet. I’m loath to stop something I feel is doing me good and helping me to maintain my wellbeing in my retirement years. And no, I haven’t slowed down at all!’

Roger, 71, has been taking Ateronon Heart+ for six years and has no plan to stop

Retired call centre agent, Roger Pochin, 71, feels similarly:

‘I like to walk cross country with my sons on a regular basis at least 6 miles every time, via public footpaths and farmers fields.

‘I started taking Ateronon Heart+ about six years ago when it was recommended on a daytime television programme.

‘I have a heart condition and a couple of stents, as well as aortic stenosis, but I still get out and about.

‘I decided to look into Ateronon Heart+ and it seemed an obvious choice for me, I really liked the studies behind it. I believe in the product and the LactoLycopene™ ingredient.

‘I have it on subscription and I intend to continue taking it.’

Dr Ferrer concludes: ‘Many of us want to improve our heart health, whether that’s through a healthy balanced diet, regular exercise, a good night’s sleep or just taking time to relax and unwind. A science-backed nutritional supplement can help give you peace of mind, and the best way to find out is simply to try it.

‘That’s why we’re happy to offer people the opportunity to try our Ateronon Heart+ for free. All you have to pay is £1.50 to cover the cost of delivery.’

*Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) contributes to the normal function of the heart.

**Selenium contributes to the protection of cells from oxidative stress

^Cheriyan J. et al. Effects of Oral Lycopene Supplementation on Vascular Function in Patients with Cardiovascular Disease and Healthy Volunteers: A Randomised Controlled Trial. PLOS 1. June 9, 2014