根據研究顯示，茄紅素之抗氧化能力比維生素E和胡蘿蔔素強，且多攝取蕃茄或含有茄紅素成份之食品可減少罹患心血管疾病等之慢性疾病。為了評估茄紅素食品對第2型糖尿病患者的功效，共有26位控制穩定之第2型糖尿病患者除了繼續服用原本的藥物外，再進一步接受茄紅素食品補充兩個星期（每天26毫克或52毫克）。結果顯示茄紅素補充後，服用26毫克組和52毫克組之膽固醇數值，分別由184 mg/dl降至174 mg/dl和由164 mg/dl降至148 mg/dl，其p值分別為0.123和0.014（下降幅度分別為4.4%和9.8%），有降低膽固醇的功效。而服用26毫克組和52毫克組之血糖值，也分別由138 mg/dl降至128 mg/dl和由135 mg/dl降至126 mg/dl，其p值分別為0.098和0.078（下降幅度約7%左右），具有改善血糖的情形出現。然而在抗氧化酵素（superoxide dismutase和glutathione peroxidase）、脂質過氧化（malondialdehyde）、總抗氧化能力及high sensitivity CRP上並無顯著變化，這也許和茄紅素食品補充期間不夠長或者糖尿病患者所具備的氧化壓力（oxidative stress）依舊很強，而無法單由茄紅素來改變有關，詳細情況仍有待進一步評估研究。然而對於降低膽固醇和改善血糖而言，可提供給第2型糖尿病患者和照顧這類患者的醫療人員一個方向，並作為第2型糖尿病患者之輔助療法，進一步降低高膽固醇血症和改善血糖控制。 Dietary intakes of tomatoes and tomato products containing lycopene, a more potent antioxidant than vitamin E and carotene, have been shown to be associated with decreased risk of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases in numerous studies. In order to evaluate the possible beneficial effects of lycopene supplements in type 2 diabetes mellitus, twenty-six stable type 2 diabetic patients received lycopene, either 26 mg/day or 52 mg/day for 2 weeks, in addition to their previous medication. Lycopene supplements resulted in cholesterol-lowering effect (from 184 mg/dl to 174 mg/dl and 164 mg/dl to 148 mg/dl in 26 mg/day and 52 mg/day lycopene respectively, p=0.123 and 0.014), and the trend for improving glycemic control (from 138 mg/dl to 128 mg/dl and from 135 mg/dl to 126 mg/dl in 26 mg/day and 52 mg/day lycopene respectively, p=0.098 and 0.078). However, there were no significant differences on antioxidant enzymes activity (superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase), lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde, MDA), total antioxidant capacity and high sensitivity CRP values after lycopene supplements. These findings may have some implications for people with type 2 diabetes mellitus and health care professionals that the use of antioxidant supplements, such as lycopene or foods rich in antioxidants, among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus may be instructive and complementary.
