Although most AMD research has focused on zeaxanthin/lutein, in a 1995 study, Mares-Perlman et al. observed that individuals with lycopene concentrations above 294 nmol/L were 50% less likely to have AMD than individuals with concentrations below this concentration.
Based on antioxidant properties observed in laboratory studies, lycopene has been suggested as a preventive therapy for age-related macular degeneration. Preliminary human studies have overall not found a clear benefit. More research is needed before a recommendation can be made. C
2.Alzheimer's Disease:
A 1999 study of antioxidants (a-carotene, b-carotene, lycopene, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and Vitamin E) examined 79 patients with Alzheimer's disease, 37 patients with vascular dementia, 18 patients with Parkinson's disease and dementia, and 58 matching controls, together with 41 patients with Parkinson's disease and 41 matching controls. Significant reductions in individual antioxidants were observed in all dementia groups. The reduction in plasma chain-breaking antioxidants in patients with dementia may reflect an increased free-radical activity, and a common role in cognitive impairment in these conditions.
3.Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis:
Dietary factors have long been suspected of being risk factors for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). A case-control study of risk factors for ALS conducted in New England in 1993-1996 examined the dietary intake of calcium, magnesium and antioxidants among 107 ALS cases and 262 community controls. Overall, these dietary factors were not related to risk of ALS, though modestly protective associations were suggested for magnesium and lycopene.
4.Antioxidant Activity:
Laboratory research suggests that lycopene, like other carotenoids, may have antioxidant properties. However, it is not clear if lycopene has these effects in the human body. Results of different studies do not agree with each other, and better research is needed before a firm conclusion can be drawn.
Oxidative stress is recognized as one of the major contributors to the increased risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer. Among the common carotenoids lycopene stands as the most potent antioxidant as demonstrated by in vitro experimental systems. Based on this study the antioxidant potency of carotenoids can be ranked as follows:lycopene > [is greater than] alpha-tocopherol > alpha-carotene > beta-cryptoxanthin > zeaxanthin > beta-carotene > lutein. Mixtures of carotenoids were more effective than the single compounds. This synergistic effect was most pronounced when lycopene or lutein was present. The superior protection of mixtures may be related to the specific positioning of different carotenoids in cell membranes.
Several studies of tomato consumption demonstrate the antioxidant properties in humans. For example, recently it was found that daily consumption of a tomato product containing 15 mg lycopene plus other tomato phytonutrients significantly enhanced the protection of lipoproteins from ex vivo oxidative stress. These results indicate that lycopene absorbed from tomato products may act as an in vivo antioxidant.
5.Asthma caused by exercise:
Laboratory research suggests that lycopene, like other carotenoids, may have antioxidant properties. It has been suggested that antioxidants may be helpful in the prevention of asthma that is caused by exercise. There is limited, poor-quality research in this area, and further evidence is needed before a recommendation can be made. C
6.Atherosclerosis ("clogged" arteries) and high cholesterol
It has been suggested that lycopene may be helpful in people with atherosclerosis or high cholesterol, possibly due to antioxidant properties. Several studies have been published in this area, most using tomato juice as a treatment. Results have not agreed with each other, and this issue remains unclear. C
7.Breast cancer prevention:
Research in animals and observations of large human populations have examined the relationship between developing breast cancer and tomato intake or lycopene levels in the body. The evidence in this area is not clear, and further studies are needed before a firm conclusion can be drawn. C
8.Cardiovascular Disease:
Studies have been done on lycopene's ability to prevent the oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and thereby reduce the risk of developing atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease. Some of the studies have used purified lycopene, while others have focused on tomato products. Early in vitro studies suggested that lycopene might actually increase the oxidation of LDL. The in vivo studies have been somewhat contradictory. It is unclear if the contradictory results are due to a lack of understanding of the mechanism of action, or due to confusion between the effects of lycopene and tomatoes (which may contain other phytochemicals.)
So far, studies of lycopene and cardiovascular disease have been limited. In a multi-center European study, the risk for acute heart attack at the highest level of lycopene in adipose tissue was reduced by 65% compared to adipose lycopene at the lowest level.
In two other studies, an inverse relationship was found between lycopene in the serum and the risk of cardiovascular mortality or the risk of stroke. However, a third study found no association between lycopene serum levels and heart attacks.
9.Cancer prevention (general):
Studies have examined large populations to identify which lifestyle factors affect health. Many of these "epidemiologic" or "population" studies suggest a link between diets high in fruits and vegetables and a decreased risk of developing cancer. However, it is not entirely clear which foods are most beneficial, or if reduced cancer is due to other (non-dietary) aspects of a "healthy lifestyle." High levels of lycopene are found in tomatoes and in tomato-based products. Tomatoes are also sources of other nutrients such as vitamin C, folate, and potassium. Several laboratory and human studies examining tomato-based products and blood lycopene levels suggest that lycopene may be associated with a lower risk of developing cancer. However, due to a lack of well-designed human research using lycopene supplements, this issue remains unclear.
10.Cervical cancer prevention:
Observations of large human populations suggest possible benefits of tomato product intake in preventing cervical cancer. However, other studies report no benefits. Research that specifically studies lycopene supplements is lacking.
11.Dietary Intake:
Lycopene intake estimates vary considerably, depending on the population group and sources of lycopene in their diet. According to a 1996 study, lycopene intake in America averages 3.1-3.7 mg/day. However, a recent analysis of the USDA CSFII 1994 - 96 food survey showed a correct mean per capita intake of 5.2 mg/day, and half the population consumed <1.9 mg/day. Intake was higher in males than in females and decreased with age. Intake was highest for the 12 - 19 year age group.
As previously mentioned, the optimal protective lycopene intake level from two large population studies is approximately 6.5 mg/day. However, there is often a big difference between optimal diets and actual diets. In fact, according to the widely-accepted Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals, 1994 - 1996, the median intake of lycopene for Americans was only 1.9 mg/day, which indicates that a very substantial gap exists.
12.Gastrointestinal tract and colorectal cancer prevention:
Multiple studies have examined whether intake of tomatoes or tomato-based products helps prevent digestive tract cancers, including oral, pharyngeal, esophageal, gastric, colon, and rectal. Results have been inconsistent, with some studies reporting significant benefits, and others finding no effects. Research that specifically studies lycopene supplements is limited, and more research is needed in this area before a conclusion can be drawn.
13.High blood pressure associated with pregnancy (pre-eclampsia):
Based on early study, lycopene may reduce the development of pre-eclampsia and intrauterine growth retardation in women having their first child. Further research is needed to confirm these results.
14.Immune stimulation:
It has been proposed that lycopene and other carotenoids, such as beta-carotene, may stimulate the immune system. However, several studies of lycopene supplements and tomato juice intake in humans report no effects on the immune system.
15.Infertility:
Based on early study, taking lycopene seems to have a role in the management of idiopathic male infertility. Further research is needed to confirm these results.
16.Lung cancer prevention:
Several studies observing large populations report a lower risk of developing lung cancer in people who regularly eat tomatoes. However, other studies report no benefits of tomato consumption. Research that specifically studies lycopene supplements is lacking.
17.Lung function after exercise:
A daily dose of lycopene for 1 week does not seem to affect lung function after exercise and does not provide any protective effect against clinical difficulty in breathing in young athletes.
Studies are underway to investigate other potential benefits of lycopene - including the H.J. Heinz Company sponsored research at the University of Toronto and at the American Health Foundation. These studies will focus on lycopene's possible role in the fight against cancers of the digestive tract, breast and prostate cancer.
18.Prostate cancer prevention:
Studies of large populations report mixed results as to whether eating tomatoes/tomato-based products reduces the risk of developing prostate cancer. Research that specifically studies lycopene supplements is lacking.
19.Sun protection:
Lycopene in combination with other carotenoids such as beta-carotene, vitamins C an E, selenium and proanthocyanidins, may help in reducing sunburn. Selected protective effects from UV rays have been observed in small, short-term studies. More research is needed before a firm conclusion can be drawn.
20.Skin Health:
A recent patent claims tomato pigment as an active ingredient for preventing aging. The patent claims the preparation prevents inflammation of the skin due to peroxylipid formation. It also claims prevention of "blackening, wrinkles and sagging and has excellent skin aging prevention effect."
Ribaya-Mercado et al. reported the protective effects of lycopene toward oxidative stress-mediated damage of the human skin after irradiation with UV light.
21.Viral Disease:
The epidemic of optic and peripheral neuropathy that occurred in Cuba in the early 1990s provides an example of how the nutritional status of the host may affect the impact of a virus. Patients who developed neuropathy had lower blood concentrations of riboflavin, vitamin E, selenium, a- and b-carotenes, and the carotenoid lycopene, which suggests that the disease was associated with an impairment of protective antioxidant pathways.
After supplementation of the population with these nutrients, the disease began to subside. The nutritional status of the host can have a profound influence on a virus, so that a normally avirulent virus becomes virulent because of changes in the viral genome. Studies suggest that outbreaks of disease attributed to a nutritional deficiency may actually result from infection by a virus that has become pathogenic by replicating in a nutritionally deficient host.
Modern Research and Lycopene Update:
Isolation of Lycopene and Beta-Carotene1-3:
Lycopene, the red pigment of the tomato, is a C40-carotenoid made up of eight isoprene units. b-carotene, the yellow pigment of the carrot is the isomer of lycopene. The basic structures for these two molecules are shown below.
Lycopene is the predominant carotenoid in blood plasma and prostate tissue. It is also responsible for the color of flamingos; without lycopene in their diet, flamingos would be white. The chromophore in both lycopene and carotene is a system of 11 all-trans conjugated double bonds; the closing of the two rings renders b-carotene less highly pigmented than lycopene. Lycopene is not converted into vitamin A as carotene is, but is a powerful antioxidant, being an efficient scavenger of singlet oxygen, and thus has an anti-cancer effect. For more information concerning the nutritional benefits of lycopene see the Science News article at http://www.sciencenews.org/sn_arc97/7_19_97/food.htm. Carotenoids are very sensitive to light-catalyzed air oxidation. Consequently, the solutions should be protected from undue exposure to light and heat.
Dehydration and extraction of tomato paste:
Add 5g of tomato paste to a test tube. To this add about 7 mL of acetone and stir the paste for several minutes until it is no longer gummy. This acetone treatment removes most of the water from the cellular mixture. Filter the mixture through a small Buchner funnel. Scrape out the tube with spatula, let it drain thoroughly, and squeeze as much liquid as possible out of the solid residue in the funnel with a spatula. Discard the yellow filtrate. Return the solid residue to the tube and add 5 mL of dichloromethane to effect extraction. (Do not breathe vapors of dichloromethane. Dichloromethane is a cancer-suspect agent). Shake the mixture and filter through a Buchner funnel once more. Repeat the extraction and filtration with two or three additional 5-mL portions of dichloromethane. Clean the tube thoroughly and put the filtrates in it. Dry the solution over anhydrous calcium chloride pallets, filter the solution into a small flask and evaporate the solution to dryness under vacuum. Apply heat only with the palm of your hand.
Weigh the crude material. Add enough dichloromethane to dissolve it. Perform a TLC analysis (using dichloromethane as the eluent on a silica gel plate).
Column Chromatography:
Weigh 5.5 g of alumina. Prepare the column exactly as demonstrated using ligroin as the solvent. As the level of the solvent in the prepared column falls just to the top of the packing material, carefully add the sample to the top of the column with a Pasteur pipette. Allow the sample solution to fall to the top of the column before adding additional eluting solvent (ligroin). Discard the initial colorless eluate. Monitor the progress of the sample down the column, noting the color and order of any bands that elute. (Remember, the eluting solvent must be kept above the top of the packed column at all times. Should the solvent level fall below the top of the column, channels will form in the packing material. This will adversely influence any separation attempted using the column). Use 10% acetone in ligroin and dichloromethane, in that order, to elute different colored bands. As bands elute from the column, collect each in a separate, labeled, tared beaker. Allow these solutions to evaporate to dryness in the hood.
After drying the separated solutions, spot a TLC plate with a bit of each fraction (dissolved in minimum amount of dichloromethane) and elute it using the solvent that best gave the separation results earlier.
Combine your purified products with other students and obtain a proton NMR spectrum . Also obtain an infrared spectrum and a visible spectrum (in hexane).
While Collagen firms up and gives your skin a supple feel, Lycopene protects your skin from harmful agents that cause the skin to sag. Together, they help firm up the skin and retain moisture for healthy looking skin while protecting it from the sun's harmful rays. Don't let your hectic lifestyle stand in the way of feeling great and looking fabulous. Take the double goodness of Collagen + Lycopene in one convenient tablet and give your skin all that it needs to stay beautiful.
Daily dosage : 3 tablets
Available in 1 month's supply.
Not recommended for people with known allergies to seafood.
Ingredients (daily dosage):
* Marine Hydrolyzed Collagen - 1000mg
* Lysine - 400mg
* Tomato Extract containing 5% of Lycopene - 100mg
* Vitamin C - 60mg
* Copper - 2mg
Effects of ingestion of tomatoes, tomato juice and tomato pur??e on contents of lycopene isomers, tocopherols and ascorbic acid in human plasma as well as on lycopene isomer pattern.:
Br J Nutr. 2006; 95(4):734-41 (ISSN: 0007-1145).Fr??hlich K; Kaufmann K; Bitsch R; B??hm V.Institute of Nutrition, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Dornburger Strasse 25-29, D-07743 Jena, Germany.
Tomatoes are an important part of the diet. Lycopene, the predominant carotenoid in tomatoes, is hypothesised to mainly mediate the health benefits of tomato products. Anticancer activity of tomato products and lycopene has been suggested by numerous studies. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of ingestion of three different tomato-based foodstuffs on plasma contents of lycopene, tocopherols and ascorbic acid. Because isomers of lycopene may have different biological activities, a special interest was to look how the lycopene isomer pattern is changed depending on the matrix of tomato products. Following a 2-week depletion phase volunteers ingested 12.5 mg lycopene/d for 4 weeks comprising tomatoes, tomato juice or tomato pur??e. The basal levels of lycopene in plasma were comparable for all groups and decreased significantly during the 2 weeks of depletion to approximately half of the basal values. Following intervention, plasma lycopene concentration increased significantly. Conversely, supplementation did not significantly affect levels of tocopherols and ascorbic acid in plasma. Regarding isomers of lycopene, the (Z)-lycopene:(all-E)-lycopene plasma isomer ratio was significantly changed during the study for all groups. A remarkable enrichment of the relative contents of (5Z)-lycopene was observed during the depletion period, which supports the hypothesis that lycopene (Z)-isomers are formed within the human body after ingestion of (all-E)-lycopene. After dietary intervention with lycopene-rich products the isomer ratios returned to those observed at the start of the study. Further investigations will clarify the process of isomerisation in more detail.
Inhibitory effects of lycopene on the adhesion, invasion, and migration of SK-Hep1 human hepatoma cells.:
Exp Biol Med (Maywood). 2006; 231(3):322-7 (ISSN: 1535-3702).Hwang ES; Lee HJ.Department of Food Science and Technology, School of Agricultural Biotechnology and Center for Agricultural Biomaterials, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, San 56-1, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 151-742, Republic of Korea.
Lycopene, which is the predominant carotenoid in tomatoes and tomato-based foods, may protect humans against various cancers. Effects of lycopene on the adhesion, invasion, migration, and growth of the SK-Hep1 human hepatoma cell line were investigated. Lycopene inhibited cell growth in dose-dependent manners, with growth inhibition rates of 5% and 40% at 0.1 microM and 50 microM lycopene, respectively, after 24 hrs of incubation. Similarly, after 48 hrs of incubation, lycopene at 5 microM and 10 microM decreased the cell numbers by 30% and 40%, respectively. Lycopene decreased the gelatinolytic activities of both matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9, which were secreted from the SK-Hep1 cells. Incubation of SK-Hep1 cells with 110 microM of lycopene for 60 mins significantly inhibited cell adhesion to the Matrigel-coated substrate in a concentration-dependent manner. To study invasion, SK-Hep1 cells were grown either on Matrigel-coated Transwell membranes or in 24-well plates. The cells were treated sequentially for 24 hrs with lycopene before the start of the invasion assays. Cell growth and death were assessed under the same conditions. The invasion of SK-Hep1 cells treated with lycopene was significantly reduced to 28.3% and 61.9% of the control levels at 5 microM and 10 microM lycopene, respectively (P < 0.05). In the migration assay, lycopene-treated cells showed lower levels of migration than untreated cells. These results demonstrate the antimetastatic properties of lycopene in inhibiting the adhesion, invasion, and migration of SK-Hep1 human hepatoma cells.
Combined lycopene and vitamin E treatment suppresses the growth of PC-346C human prostate cancer cells in nude mice.:
J Nutr. 2006; 136(5):1287-93 (ISSN: 0022-3166).Limpens J; Schr??der FH; de Ridder CM; Bolder CA; Wildhagen MF; Oberm??ller-Jevic UC; Kr??mer K; van Weerden WM.Department of Urology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Epidemiologic studies have repeatedly associated a high intake of lycopene and vitamin E with reduced prostate cancer risk. The present study examined the ability of the 2 compounds to reduce tumor growth and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) plasma levels in the PC-346C orthotopic mouse model of human prostate cancer. Three days after intraprostatic tumor injection, NMRI nu/nu mice were administered a daily oral dose of synthetic lycopene [5 or 50 mg/kg body weight (BW)], vitamin E in the form of alpha-tocopheryl acetate (5 or 50 mg/kg BW), a mixture of lycopene and vitamin E (5 mg/kg BW each), or vehicle. Intraprostatic tumor volume and plasma PSA concentrations were measured at regular intervals. Mice were killed when the tumor load exceeded 1000 mm(3) or on d 95 when the study was terminated. Prostate and liver were analyzed by HPLC for lycopene isomers and alpha- and gamma, delta-tocopherol concentrations. None of the single treatments significantly reduced tumor volume. In contrast, combined treatment with lycopene and vitamin E, at 5 mg/kg BW each, suppressed orthotopic growth of PC-346C prostate tumors by 73% at d 42 (P < 0.05) and increased median survival time by 40% from 47 to 66 d (P = 0.02). The PSA index (PSA:tumor volume ratio) did not differ between experimental groups, indicating that PSA levels were not selectively affected. Lycopene was detected only in mice supplemented with lycopene. As in humans, most tissue lycopene was in the cis-isomer conformation, whereas 77% trans-lycopene was used in the dosing material. Liver alpha-tocopherol concentrations were increased in mice supplemented with both 50 mg/kg (226%, P < 0.05) and 5 mg/kg vitamin E (41%, P < 0.05), whereas prostate alpha-tocopherol concentrations were increased only by the higher dose (83%, P < 0.05). Our data provide evidence that lycopene combined with vitamin E may inhibit the growth of prostate cancer and that PSA can serve as a biomarker of tumor response for this treatment regimen.
Effects of olive oil and tomato lycopene combination on serum lycopene, lipid profile, and lipid oxidation.:
Nutrition. 2006; 22(3):259-65 (ISSN: 0899-9007).Ahuja KD; Pittaway JK; Ball MJ.School of Human Life Sciences, University of Tasmania,Launceston, Tasmania, Australia.
OBJECTIVE: We compared the effect of two diets (a diet high in olive oil and a diet high in carbohydrate and low in olive oil) with high lycopene content and other controlled carotenoids on serum lycopene, lipids, and in vitro oxidation. METHODS: This was a randomized crossover dietary intervention study carried out in Launceston, Tasmania, Australia in healthy free-living individuals. Twenty-one healthy subjects who were 22 to 70 y old were recruited by advertisements in newspapers and a university newsletter. A randomized dietary intervention was done with two diets of 10 d each. One diet was high in olive oil and the other was high in carbohydrate and low in olive oil; the two diets contained the same basic foods and a controlled carotenoid content high in lycopene.
RESULTS: Significant increases (P<0.001) in serum lycopene concentration on both diets were to similar final concentrations. Higher serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P<0.01), lower ratio of total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein (P<0.01), and lower triacylglycerols (P<0.05) occurred after the olive oil diet compared with the high-carbohydrate, low-fat diet. There was no difference in total antioxidant status and susceptibility of serum lipids to oxidation.
CONCLUSIONS: Serum lycopene level changes with dietary lycopene intake irrespective of the amount of fat intake. However, a diet high in olive oil and rich in lycopene may decrease the risk of coronary heart disease by improving the serum lipid profile compared with a high-carbohydrate, low-fat, lycopene-rich diet.
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):620-5 (ISSN: 0022-3166).Wang L; Liu S; Manson JE; Gaziano JM; Buring JE; Sesso HD.Division of Aging, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA. luwang@rics.bwh.harvard.edu
Lycopene is a major carotenoid with potent antioxidant properties that may provide protection against the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). In this study we examined the association between baseline dietary intakes of lycopene, lycopene-containing foods, and the subsequent development of type 2 DM in a large prospective cohort study. We analyzed a total of 35,783 women from the United States, aged > or =45 y and free from self-reported cardiovascular disease, cancer, and DM at baseline. Intakes of lycopene and total and individual tomato-based food products were assessed by a 131-item-validated semiquantitative food-frequency questionnaire. During a median follow-up of 10.2 y, 1544 cases of incident type 2 DM were documented. After adjusting for age, total energy intake, randomized treatment assignment, body mass index, and other known DM risk factors, the multivariate-adjusted relative risks and 95% CI of type 2 DM across increasing quintiles of dietary lycopene, were 1.00 (baseline), 1.10 (0.94-1.29), 1.10 (0.94-1.29), and 1.07 (0.91-1.26) (P linear trend = 0.56). Compared with women who consumed <1.5 servings/wk total tomato-based food products, women who consumed 1.5 to <4, 4 to <7, 7 to <10, and > or =10 servings/wk had multivariate relative risks (95% CI) of 1.03 (0.88-1.20), 1.02 (0.87-1.20), 1.09 (0.89-1.33), and 1.04 (0.80-1.36), respectively (P linear trend = 0.54). The associations for individual tomato-based food products were similar to the results for the combination of all tomato products. Our study found little evidence for an association between dietary intake of lycopene or lycopene-containing foods and the risk of type 2 DM.
Lycopene.:
Adv Food Nutr Res. 2006; 51:99-164 (ISSN: 1043-4526).Rao AV; Ray MR; Rao LG.Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine,University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Oxidative stress is now recognized as an important etiological factor in the causation of several chronic diseases including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis, and diabetes. Antioxidants play an important role in mitigating the damaging effects of oxidative stress on cells. Lycopene, a carotenoid antioxidant, has received considerable scientific interest in recent years. Epidemiological, tissue culture, and animal studies provide convincing evidence supporting the role of lycopene in the prevention of chronic diseases. Human intervention studies are now being conducted to validate epidemiological observations and to understand the mechanisms of action of lycopene in disease prevention. To obtain a better understanding of the role of lycopene in human health, this chapter reviews the most recent information pertaining to its chemistry, bioavailability, metabolism, role in the prevention of prostate cancer and cancer of other target organs, its role in cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis, hypertension, and male infertility. A discussion of the most relevant molecular markers of cancer is also included as a guide to future researchers in this area. The chapter concludes by reviewing global intake levels of lycopene, suggested levels of intake, and future research directions.
Effects of thymoquinone, lycopene, and selenomethione in the presence of estrogen on the viability of SiHa cells in vitro.:
Biomed Sci Instrum. 2006; 42:37-41 (ISSN: 0067-8856).Brewer J; Benghuzzi H; Tucci M.University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson,Mississippi 39216, USA.
This study investigated the antioxidants thymoquinone, selenomethione and lycopene on SiHa, a cervical cancer cell line preinfected with human papillomavirus. The hypothesis was that the combination of thymoquinone, selenomethione, and lycopene would have a detrimental effect on the viability, and biochemical analysis of SiHa cells. The specific aims were to establish the role of selenomethione, lycopene and thymoquinone on SiHa cells in the presence of, or in the absence of estrogen, and to determine if a combination of estrogen, lycopene, selenomethione, and/or thymoquinone are more effective in slowing the proliferation of SiHa cells then when used alone. Results indicated that selenomethione alone appeared to be chemoprotective, but when used in combination with estrogen, lycopene and TQ caused cellular damage as evidenced by decreased proliferation rate, increased glutathione levels, and increased MDA levels.
Lycopene-rich products and dietary photoprotection.:
Photochem Photobiol Sci. 2006; 5(2):238-42 (ISSN: 1474-905X)Stahl W; Heinrich U; Aust O; Tronnier H; Sies H.Institut f??r Biochemie und Molekularbiologie I, Heinrich-Heine-Universit??t D??sseldorf, P.O. Box 101007, D-40001 D??sseldorf, Germany.
Plant constituents such as carotenoids and flavonoids are involved in the light-protecting system in plants and contribute to the prevention of UV damage in humans. As micronutrients they are ingested with the diet and are distributed into light-exposed tissues where they provide systemic photoprotection. beta-Carotene is an endogenous photoprotector, and its efficacy to prevent UV-induced erythema formation has been demonstrated in intervention studies. Lycopene is the major carotenoid of the tomato and is a very efficient singlet oxygen quencher in the group of carotenoids. Following ingestion of lycopene or tomato-derived products rich in lycopene, photoprotective effects have been demonstrated. After 10-12 weeks of intervention a decrease in the sensitivity towards UV-induced erythema was observed in volunteers. Dietary carotenoids may contribute to life-long protection against harmful UV radiation.
Natural antioxidants from tomato extract reduce blood pressure in patients with grade-1 hypertension: a double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study.:
Am Heart J. 2006; 151(1):100 (ISSN: 1097-6744).Engelhard YN; Gazer B; Paran E.Hypertension Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, Soroka University Medical Centre, Ben Gurion, University of the Negev, 84101 Beer Sheva, Israel.
BACKGROUND: Treatment of hypertension (HT) can reduce the risk for cardiovascular diseases. Tomato extract contains carotenoids such as lycopene, beta carotene, and vitamin E, which are known as effective antioxidants, to inactivate free radicals, and to slow the progression of atherosclerosis. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the effect of tomato extract on systolic and diastolic blood pressure in grade-1 HT, on serum lipoproteins, plasma homocysteine, and oxidative stress markers.
METHODS: This study is a single-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Thirty-one subject with grade-1 HT, without concomitant diseases, who required no antihypertensive or lipid-lowering drug therapy, who were recruited from primary care clinics, completed the trial. Subjects entered a 4-week placebo period, then an 8-week treatment period with tomato extract, 250 mg Lyc-O-Mato, and a 4-week control period with placebo. RESULTS: Systolic blood pressure decreased from 144 (SE +/- 1.1) to 134 mm Hg (SE +/- 2, P < .001), and diastolic blood pressure decreased from 87.4 (SE +/- 1.2) to 83.4 mm Hg (SE +/- 1.2, P < .05). No changes in blood pressure were demonstrated during placebo periods. Thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, a lipid peroxidation products marker, decreased from 4.58 (SE +/- 0.27) to 3.81 nmol/mg (SE +/- 0.32, P < .05). No significant changes were found in lipid parameters.
CONCLUSIONS: A short-term treatment with antioxidant-rich tomato extract can reduce blood pressure in patients with grade-1 HT, naive to drug therapy. The continuous effect of this treatment and the long-term beneficial effect on cardiovascular risk factors still need to be demonstrated.
Carotenoids and cardiovascular health.:
Am J Clin Nutr. 2006; 83(6):1265-71 (ISSN: 0002-9165).Voutilainen S; Nurmi T; Mursu J; Rissanen TH.Research Institute of Public Health and Department of Public Health and General Practice, University of Kuopio, Kuopio, Finland. sari.voutilainen@uku.fi
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the main cause of death in Western countries. Nutrition has a significant role in the prevention of many chronic diseases such as CVD, cancers, and degenerative brain diseases. The major risk and protective factors in the diet are well recognized, but interesting new candidates continue to appear. It is well known that a greater intake of fruit and vegetables can help prevent heart diseases and mortality. Because fruit, berries, and vegetables are chemically complex foods, it is difficult to pinpoint any single nutrient that contributes the most to the cardioprotective effects. Several potential components that are found in fruit, berries, and vegetables are probably involved in the protective effects against CVD. Potential beneficial substances include antioxidant vitamins, folate, fiber, and potassium. Antioxidant compounds found in fruit and vegetables, such as vitamin C, carotenoids, and flavonoids, may influence the risk of CVD by preventing the oxidation of cholesterol in arteries. In this review, the role of main dietary carotenoids, ie, lycopene, beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, lutein, and zeaxanthin, in the prevention of heart diseases is discussed. Although it is clear that a higher intake of fruit and vegetables can help prevent the morbidity and mortality associated with heart diseases, more information is needed to ascertain the association between the intake of single nutrients, such as carotenoids, and the risk of CVD. Currently, the consumption of carotenoids in pharmaceutical forms for the treatment or prevention of heart diseases cannot be recommended.
Nutrition and pharmacological treatment for prevention of prostate cancer.:
Harefuah. 2006; 145(1):47-51, 76-7 (ISSN: 0017-7768).Segev Y; Nativ O.Urology Department, The Bnei Zion Medical Center, Haifa. segevyakir@yahoo.com
Prostate cancer is the most common neoplasm and the second cause of cancer death. It is an excellent target for primary chemopreventive strategies for the following reasons: it is highly prevalent and has a long latency period, there are identifiable risk factors and a precursor lesion and it produces a biochemical marker (serum PSA) which can serve as an intermediate end point in chemoprevention studies. The goal of primary prevention strategies is to prevent development of clinical life-threatening neoplasms in asymptomatic patients with no evidence of clinical disease. Identification of populations at risk for developing cancer is the cornerstone of chemoprevention. Well-established risk factors for prostate cancer include African-American race, older age and family history. Data on diet and obesity are less clearly defined. Since high grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) is an early predictor of prostate cancer, preventive strategies focusing on men with high grade PIN are being explored. It was demonstrated that finasteride could significantly reduce prostate cancer in asymptomatic men with normal PSA and no abnormalities on rectal examination. Elevated prostaglandin levels, and upregulation of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) are found in prostate cancer cell lines. There is some epidemiologic evidence that regular use of NSAIDs, which inhibit COX-2, may be associated with a lower risk of prostate cancer. In the field of nutrition, data from prospective large-scale studies demonstrated that increased consumption of lycopene-rich tomato-based foods referred to a reduction in the risk for prostate cancer. Vitamin E was also found to reduce prostate cancer risk. Prospective data showed that vitamin D has an inhibitory effect on prostate cancer development while increased calcium consumption, independent from dietary intake, might increase the risk. Dietary fat intake, particularly from animal sources, may also increase the risk for prostate cancer. Whether this effect is strictly due to the already identified compounds or to other compounds, remains to be explored. Further study will hopefully help to establish a core set of nutritional and dietary factors that can positively or negatively affect prostate cancer development, as well as a set of pharmacologic agents that can reduce the risk of prostate cancer development and/or progression in selected patients.
High Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Intake May Reduce Risk for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.:
May 1, 2006 ˇŞ A diet high in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and vitamin E reduces the risk for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), according to the results of a case-control study reported in the April 28 Online First issue of the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry.
"Despite several studies that investigated environmental exposures in relation to ALS, age, gender and smoking are the only established risk factors," write J. H. Veldink, MD, from the University Medical Center Utrecht in The Netherlands, and colleagues. "Several, not mutually exclusive, pathological processes may contribute to motor neurone death in ALS in a so-called convergence model, including oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, protein misfolding, axonal strangulation, apoptosis, inflammation, glutamate excitotoxicity and defects in neurotrophin biology. Nutrients are factors that could influence these processes and thereby the risk of developing ALS or its clinical expression."
During 2001-2002, 132 patients referred to the authors' clinic with definite, probable, or possible ALS according to El Escorial criteria, but without a familial history of ALS, were enrolled in a case-control study and matched with 220 healthy controls. All subjects completed a food frequency questionnaire, and multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed with adjustment for confounding factors, including sex, age, level of education, energy intake, body mass index, and smoking.
High PUFA and vitamin E intake was associated with a reduced risk of developing ALS (PUFA: odds ratio [OR], 0.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.2 - 0.7; P = .001; vitamin E: OR, 0.4; 95% CI, 0.2 - 0.7; P = .001). PUFA and vitamin E appeared to act synergistically. In a combined analysis, the trend OR for vitamin E was further reduced from 0.67 to 0.37 (P = .02) and PUFA from 0.60 to 0.26 (P = .005), with a significant interaction term (P = .03). The intake of flavonols, lycopene, vitamin C, vitamin B2, glutamate, calcium, or phytoestrogens did not affect the risk of developing ALS.
"A high intake of PUFAs and vitamin E is associated with a 50-60% decreased risk of developing ALS, and these nutrients appear to act synergistically," the authors write. "Vitamin E may act directly to reduce the risk of ALS as a known inhibitor of lipid peroxidation, but it could also act indirectly through inhibition of peroxidation of nutritional PUFAs."
Study limitations include the possible influence of overmatching of controls, recall bias, and the non¨Cpopulation-based design.
"Importantly, this case-control study took into account the possible influence of preclinical disease in assessing dietary intake and adjusted for important confounders, including total energy intake, according to the residual method," the authors write. "A population-based case-control study is presently being conducted to generate class I evidence."
ZonMw, The Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development, supported this study. The authors have disclosed no relevant financial disclosures.
J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatr. Posted online April 28, 2006.
Learning Objectives for This Educational Activity
Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to:
Describe the association between PUFA and vitamin E intake and ALS.
Describe the influence of intake of flavonols, lycopene, vitamin C, vitamin B2, glutamate, and phytoestrogens on incident ALS.
Clinical Context
Studies investigating environmental exposures in relation to ALS have implicated age, sex (male sex), smoking, and dietary intake as risk factors. Dietary factors identified as positively associated with risk for incident ALS include glutamate, fat, fish, and milk, whereas those factors negatively associated with ALS include lycopene, dietary fiber, bread, and pasta, although the association with milk is controversial. Omega 3 PUFAs have also been found to be protective against cardiovascular disease, Parkinson disease, and Alzheimer disease, whereas omega 6 fatty acids have been shown to have the opposite effect.
The current trial is a retrospective, case-control questionnaire study examining the possible association of premorbid dietary intake with incidence of ALS.
Study Highlights:
Participants were patients with definite, probable, or possible ALS according to El Escorial criteria presenting to 2 national referral centers for diagnosis for a 1-year period.
Only patients with upper and lower motor neuron involvement were included.
Patients with a family history of ALS were excluded.
184 patients were identified, and 72% responded to a mailed questionnaire.
Survival status of patients was monitored for 4 years.
Each patient was sent 3 identical questionnaires: one for the patient to complete and the other 2 for controls selected by the patients.
Each patient was asked to approach 2 persons who fulfilled these criteria as controls: not a spouse or partner, similar in age within 5 years and of the same sex.
83% of 264 controls returned the questionnaires.
All questionnaires were anonymous.
The questionnaires asked about demographics, anthropometric data, and dietary habits using a food frequency questionnaire.
The food frequency questionnaire used had 104 items for intake of energy, total fat, fatty acids, and cholesterol.
37 items were added to the food frequency questionnaire to include assessment of intake of glutamate; flavonols; lycopene; vitamin B2, C, and E; calcium; and phytoestrogens.
Questions were chosen on the basis of the Dutch National Food Consumption Survey of 1992.
Logistic regression was used to calculate risk controlling for age, sex, body mass index, education, smoking, and energy intake.
The 2 groups were similar in age, sex, smoking behavior, and body mass index.
Mean age was 58 years, two thirds were male, and 20% were current smokers. Mean premorbid body mass index was 25 kg/m2.
Of the ALS patients, 60% had probable, 22% possible, and 18% definite ALS.
Total premorbid energy intake was similar in the 2 groups.
Total cholesterol intake was higher in those with ALS, but this was not statistically significant.
Intake of PUFA and vitamin E were significantly lower in ALS patients than in controls.
The highest tertile of daily PUFA intake (> 32 g) was associated with a 60% lower risk of ALS (OR, 0.4; P = .001) vs the lowest tertile (< 25 g).
The second tertile of vitamin E intake (18 - 22 mg) was associated with a 60% lower risk of ALS (OR, 0.4; P = .001).
The highest tertile of vitamin E intake (> 22 mg) was associated with a 50% lower risk of ALS vs the lowest tertile (< 18 mg).
Vitamin E and PUFA appeared to act synergistically.
The trend for OR for vitamin E was reduced from 0.67 to 0.37 in combined analysis and for PUFA from 0.60 to 0.26 (P = .005).
The association with cholesterol was not significant (OR, 1.6; P = .11).
There was no salient association between PUFA and vitamin E intake and age of onset or duration of disease.
Intake of flavonols, lycopene, vitamin B2 and C, glutamate, calcium, and phytoestrogens did not affect incidence of ALS.
Pearls for Practice
A high intake of PUFA and vitamin E is associated with a 50% to 60% reduction in risk for incident ALS.
Intake of flavonols, lycopene, vitamin B2 and C, glutamate, calcium, and phytoestrogens do not affect incidence of ALS.
Indications and Usage:Research Summary:
Lycopene may be helpful in preventing and possibly also managing some cancers, particularly prostate cancer, and may confer some protection against cardiovascular disease. Research, though suggestive of these positive effects, is far from conclusive. And there is far too little evidence of efficacy from very preliminary studies to support any indication for lycopene in the management of HIV disease or other immune dysfunction or in the management of neurodegenerative disorders.
Contradications,Precautions,Adverse Reactions:
Contradications:Lycopene is contraindicated in those hypersensitive to any component of a lycopene-containing product.
Precautions:Pregnant women and nursing mothers should obtain their lycopene intake from food sources rather than supplements.
Interactions with Drugs:
Cholestyramine: Concomitant intake of cholestyramine and lycopene may decrease the absorption of lycopene.
Colestipol: Concomitant intake of colestipol and lycopene may decrease the absorption of lycopene.
Mineral oil: Concomitant intake of mineral oil and lycopene may reduce the absorption of lycopene.
Orlistat: Orlistat may decrease the absorption of lycopene.
Interactions with Nutritional Supplements:
Beta-carotene: Concomitant intake of beta-carotene and lycopene may increase the absorption of lycopene.
Medium-chain triglycerides: Concomitant intake of medium-chain triglycerides and lycopene may enhance the absorption of lycopene.
Pectin: Concomitant intake of pectin and lycopene may decrease the absorption of lycopene.
Interactions with Foods:
Oils: Dietary oils, such as olive oil, may enhance the absorption of lycopene.
Olestra: Olestra may reduce the absorption of lycopene.
Research Summary:
In a prospective study that followed the eating habits of 47,000 men for six years, a positive correlation was found between tomato-based food consumption and apparent resistance to development of prostate cancer. There was a 35% reduction in risk of developing prostate cancer among those who consumed more than 10 servings of tomato products weekly, compared with those who consumed fewer than 1.5 servings weekly. Most of these servings (82%) were in the form of tomatoes, tomato sauce and pizza. Tomato sauce appeared to be the most protective.
This study reinforced the findings of an earlier prospective study that examined the eating habits of Seventh Day Adventist men over a six-year period. This study found that the relative risk of prostate cancer was 0.60 among Adventist men who ate tomatoes more than five times weekly, compared with those who consumed them less than once weekly.
A recent review of 72 studies found 57 reports of inverse associations between tomato consumption or blood lycopene levels and risk of various types of cancer; 35 of these associations were significant. Evidence of lycopene protective effects were highest for cancers of the prostate, lung and stomach.
While cautioning that these associations do not establish a cause-and-effect relationship, the reviewer observed that "the consistency of the results across numerous studies in diverse populations, for case-control and prospective studies, and for dietary-based and blood-based investigations argues against bias or confounding as the explanation for these findings."
Recently, more direct, though still preliminary, evidence emerged suggestive of lycopene protective and, perhaps, interventive effects in prostate cancer. In this study, 33 men scheduled for surgery to remove cancerous prostate glands, were randomized to receive 30 milligrams of lycopene (in two 15-milligram capsules) daily or nothing. Dosing commenced 30 days prior to surgery.
Examination of the prostate glands post-surgery revealed that cancer had spread to the very edge of the glands in seven of the 21 lycopene-treated subjects compared with the same extent of spread in 9 of the 12 subjects who did not receive lycopene. Pre-cancerous tissue in the lycopene group was judged to be less abnormal than pre-cancerous tissue in the group that did not receive lycopene. Prostate specific antigen (PSA) fell 20% in the lycopene group between initial dosing and surgery. PSA levels were unchanged in the group not receiving lycopene. Research is ongoing.
Recent epidemiological studies have reported an inverse relationship between higher tissue and serum levels of lycopene and the risk of coronary artery disease. And a recent study in which 19 healthy subjects consumed a variety of tomato products for three weeks reported no change in serum cholesterol levels but significant decrease in lipid peroxidation and LDL-cholesterol oxidation. Numerous in vitro and animal studies have also reported results suggestive of lycopene effects that might help prevent or ameliorate cardiovascular disease. Research continues.
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Scientific References:
1.Lycopene-A Scientific Overview,What is Lycopene and its sources,Actions and Pharmacology...
2.Research update of Tomato Extract Lycopene.
Claims & Warning:
Claims: Information this web site presented is meant for Nutritional Benefit and as an educational starting point only, for use in maintenance and promotion good health in cooperation with a common knowledge base reference...Furthermore,it based solely on the traditional and historic use or legend of a given herb from the garden of Adonis. Although every effort has been made to ensure its accurate, please note that some info may be outdated by more recent scientific developments......
Pharmakon Warning: The order of knowledge is not the transparent order of forms and ideas,as one might be tempted retrospectively to interpret it; it is the antidote....(Dissemination,Plato's Pharmacy,II.The Ingredients:Phantasms,Festivals,and Paints;138cf. Jacques Derrida.).
And as it happens,the technique of imitation,along with the production of the simulacrum,has always been in Plato's eyes manifestly magical,thaumaturgical:......and the same things appear bent and straight to those who view them in water and out,or concave and convex,owing to similar errors of vision about colors, and there is obviously every confusion of this sort in our souls.And so scene painting (skiagraphia) in its exploitation of this weakness of four nature falls nothing short of witchcraft (thaumatopoia), and so do jugglery and many other such contrivances.(Republic X,602c-d;cf.also 607c).
seminal trace...Tomato Extract Lycopene.all-trans lycopene, lycopersicon, solanorubin,Rhodopurpurin,Lycopene-rich tomato extract,Natural Tomato Extract.CAS.NO:502-65-8;.M.F.C40 H56.Natural Lycopene.Lycopersicum esculentum extract.CAS.NO:090131-63-8....
Research update of Tomato Extract Lycopene:
1.Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) prevention:
* Marine Hydrolyzed Collagen - 1000mg
Scientific References:
Claims & Warning:
