Ateronon

Ateronon is a neutraceutical made from the molecule lactolycopene, which is being developed as a treatment for heart disease.

Lactolycopene is a patented compound made up of the red lycopene pigment which occurs in tomatoes, and a whey protein discovered by the food giant Nestle, to improve the bioavailability of lycopene.(1, 2) Lycopene which is a carotenoid, is a potent antioxidant with a number of potential health benefits. In particular, it is believed to halt the oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), cholesterol, widely considered to be a key process in the development of atherosclerosis, or clogging of the arteries. Several studies (3,4,5,6,7) have indicated that increased intake of dietary lycopene and raised blood lycopene levels, may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. There is also a suggestion it may reduce the risk of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and metabolic syndrome. It has also been associated with protection against some forms of cancer, particularly prostate, breast and colon cancer (8, 9, 10, 11, 12), and improvements in skin texture. As mentioned, lycopene is not always readily absorbed by the human body. For example, take-up appears better from cooked than from raw tomatoes.

The advent of lactolycopene has given Nestle a patentable form of an existing nutrient. It has led to a collaboration with L’Oreal, and the launch of Inneov, Nestle’s first venture into dietary supplements. (13) Meanwhile, evidence of the bioavailability of Ateronon has aroused growing interest from cardiology researchers. One daily tablet of Ateronon provides more bioavailable lycopene than a litre of tomato juice or 100g of tomato paste.

Ateronon was developed by Cambridge Theranostics Ltd (CTL) and launched in 2009 (14), as an over-the-counter food supplement for people at risk of heart disease.

In 2012, it was purchased by a new company Cam Nutra, which has taken over ongoing clinical trials to demonstrate its efficacy.

Large-scale studies are now underway to see if the preliminary results are replicated in bigger population groups. If Ateronon lowers blood pressure, improves lipid levels and inhibits atherogenic lipid oxidation levels in the way Nestle hopes, it could become an important weapon against the scourge of heart and circulatory disease.

References

1. J Nutr. 2002 Mar;132(3):404-8. A food-based formulation provides lycopene with the same bioavailability to humans as that from tomato paste. Richelle M, Bortlik K, Liardet S, Hager C, Lambelet P, Baur M, Applegate LA, Offord EA. Source Department of Nutrition, Nestlé Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland.

2.Eur J Pharm Biopharm. 2009 Sep;73(1):187-94. Epub 2009 May 13. Cutaneous lycopene and beta-carotene levels measured by resonance Raman spectroscopy: high reliability and sensitivity to oral lactolycopene deprivation and supplementation. Blume-Peytavi U, Rolland A, Darvin ME, Constable A, Pineau I, Voit C, Zappel K, Schäfer-Hesterberg G, Meinke M, Clavez RL, Sterry W, Lademann J. Source Clinical Research Center for Hair and Skin Science, Berlin, Germany. ulrike.blume-peytavi@charite.de 3. Sesso HD, Buring JE, Norkus EP, Gaziano JM. Plasma lycopene, other carotenoids, and retinol and the risk of cardiovascular disease in men. Am J Clin Nutr. 2005;81(5):990-997. 4. Sesso HD, Buring JE, Norkus EP, Gaziano JM. Plasma lycopene, other carotenoids, and retinol and the risk of cardiovascular disease in women. Am J Clin Nutr. 2004;79(1):47-53. 5. Sesso HD, Liu S, Gaziano JM, Buring JE. Dietary lycopene, tomato-based food products and cardiovascular disease in women. J Nutr. 2003;133(7):2336-2341. 6. Wang L, Liu S, Pradhan AD, et al. Plasma lycopene, other carotenoids, and the risk of type 2 diabetes in women. Am J Epidemiol. 2006;164(6):576-585. Wang L, Liu S, Manson JE, Gaziano JM, Buring JE, Sesso HD. The consumption of lycopene and tomato-based food products is not associated with the risk of type 2 diabetes in women. J Nutr. 2006;136(3):620-625. Cancer Cell Int. 2012 Aug 6;12(1):36. [Epub ahead of print] Effect of lycopene on cell viability and cell cycle progression in human cancer cell lines. Teodoro AJ, Oliveira FL, Martins NB, Maia GA, Martucci RB, Borojevic R.

9.Cancer Manag Res. 2011;3:91-100. Epub 2011 Apr 6. Chemoprevention of prostate cancer with nutrients and supplements. Van Poppel H, Tombal B. Source Department of Urology, University Hospital, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium;

10. Phytother Res. 2012 Jun 21. doi: 10.1002/ptr.4764. [Epub ahead of print] Selective Inhibition of Cell Proliferation by Lycopene in MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells In vitro: A Proteomic Analysis. Uppala PT, Dissmore T, Lau BH, Andacht T, Rajaram S. Source Department of Environmental and Geoinformatic Sciences, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA.

11. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2012 Jan;131(1):239-53. Epub 2011 Sep 7. Carotenoids and breast cancer risk: a meta-analysis and meta-regression. Hu F, Wang Yi B, Zhang W, Liang J, Lin C, Li D, Wang F, Pang D, Zhao Y. Source Department of Epidemiology, Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, 157 Baojian Street, Nangang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang, People's Republic of China.

12.Carcinogenesis. 2010 Oct;31(10):1813-21. Epub 2010 Aug 10. Lycopene induces cell growth inhibition by altering mevalonate pathway and Ras signaling in cancer cell lines. Palozza P, Colangelo M, Simone R, Catalano A, Boninsegna A, Lanza P, Monego G, Ranelletti FO. Source Institute of General Pathology, Catholic University School of Medicine, L. Go F. Vito, 00168 Rome, Italy. p.palozza@rm.unicatt.it

13. http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Research/Nestle-explores-lycopene-absorption-optimization

14. Tomato pill ‘beats heart disease’ 1 June 2009 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8076556.stm