LYCOPENE

A Summary of Publications

Lycopene is a dark red colored carotene isomere (psi-carotene) which occurs in many fruits and in particular in rosehips and tomatoes (20 mg/kg). Recent scientific publications prove that Lycopene is an important chemopreventive food ingredient.

In the socalled "Nun Study" a group of 77 to 98 year old women was tested for the plasma concentration of various carotenoids (Lycopene, beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, zeaxanthin + lutein) and of tocopherol. The results were compared with the functional capacity (dependence in self-care) of the test persons. A strong correlation between functional capacity and lycopene concentration was found. Such a correlation was absent for the other carotenoids or tocopherol (SNOWDON 1996). MARES-PERLMAN (1995) investigated the relationship of carotenoid and tocopherol concentrations in the serum with age related eye deficiencies. He found that test persons in the lowest quintile of Lycopene concentrations had a twofold risk of age related macular degeneration (ARMD, degeneration of the macula lutea). No correlation was found for the other carotenoids and for tocopherol.

GIOVANUCCI (1995) investigated the statistical influence of carotenoid containing foods with the incidence of prostate cancer. Of 46 types of food four diminished this incidence. Three thereof contain (tomato based) Lycopene, the fourth (strawberry) did not.

A strong antiproliferative effect of Lycopene on cancer cells in vitro was observed by LEVY (1995).

Of all food carotenoids Lycopene was found to have the highest quenching rate constant for singulett oxygen (that is oxygen in a reactive state) (DI MASCIO, 1989).

FRANCESCHI (1994) made a statistical investigation in Northern Italy and found that the consumption of tomatoes (rich in Lycopene but almost free of other carotenoids) lowered the incidence of cancer of the oral cavity, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, colon and rectum.

TSUGANE (1992) shows a negative correlation between Lycopene plasma concentration and the mortality by stomach cancer. LE MARCHAND (1991) revises his interpretation of a case study of 452 prostate cancer cases in Hawai. While no influence of the consumption of carotene rich food is found there is a negative correlation of cancer incidence and the consumption of Papaya. Papaya, however, contains Lycopene as most important carotenoid (next to cryptoxanthin and cryptoxanthin derivatives) (CANO, 1996).

COMSTOCK (1991) observes a strong association of low Lycopene serum concentrations with pancreas carcinom and a somewhat weaker association with bladder and rectum carcinom.

In mice of a strain with a high spontaneous mamma carcinom incidence feed with a concentration of 5x10E-5% (0.5 ppm) Lycopene lead to a significant suppression of tumor formation (NAGASAWA, 1995). Lycopene (and other carotenoids) determined in the serum do not appear to have a protective influence against melanoma (and other skin cancers) (BRESLOW, 1995).

There is also no statistical correlation between the consumption of tomatoes (nor any carotene rich foods) with the incidence of lung cancer (STEINMETZ, 1993). 122

References

BRESLOW, R.A., 1995: Serological precursors of cancer: malignant melanoma, basal and squamous cell skin cancer, and prediagnostic levels of retinol, beta- carotene, lycopene, alpha-tocopherol, and selenium. Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers. Prev. 1995 Dec; 4(8): 837-42

CANO, M.P. et al., 1996: Effects of freezing and canning of papaya slices on their carotenoid composition. Z. Lebensm. Unters. Forsch., 1996 Apr; 202(4): 279-84

COMSTOCK, G.W., et al., 1991: Prediagnostic serum levels of carotenoids and vitamin E as related to subsequent cancer in Washington County, Maryland. Am. J. Clin. Nutr., 1991 Jan; 53(1 Suppl): 260S-264S DI MASCIO, P., et al., 1989: Lycopene as the most efficient biological carotenoid singlet oxygen quencher. Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 1989 Nov 1; 274(2): 532-8

FRANCESCHI, S. et al.: 1994: Tomatoes and risk of digestive-tract cancers. Int. J. Cancer, 1994 Oct 15; 59(2): 181-4 GIOVANNUCI, E. et al., 1995: Intake of carotenoids and retinol in relation to risk of prostate cancer. J. Natl. Cancer. Inst. 1995 Dec 6; 87(23): 1767-76

LE MARCHAND, L., et al., 1991: Vegetable and fruit consumption in relation to prostate cancer risk in Hawaii: a reevaluation of the effect of dietary beta-carotene. Am. J. Epidemiol., 1991 Feb 1; 133(3): 215-9 LEVY, J. et al., 1995: Lycopene is a more potent inhibitor of human cancer cell proliferation than either alpha-carotene or beta-carotene. Nutr. Cancer, 1995; 24(3): 257-66

MARES-PERLMAN, J.A., 1995: Serum antioxidants and age-related macular degeneration in a population-based case-control study. Arch. Ophthalmol. 1995 Dec; 113(12): 1518-23

NAGASAWA, H. et al., 1995: Effects of lycopene on spontaneous mammary tumour development in SHN virgin mice. Anticancer Res., 1995 Jul-Aug; 15(4): 1173-8

SNOWDON, D.A. et al., 1996: Antioxidants and reduced functional capacity in the elderly: findings from the Nun Study. J. Gerontol. a. Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. 1996 Jan; 51(1): M10-6

STEINMETZ, K.A. et al., 1993: Vegetables, fruit, and lung cancer in the Iowa Women's Health Study. Cancer-Res. 1993 Feb 1; 53(3): 536-43 TSUGANE, S. et al., 1992: Cross-sectional study with multiple measurements of biological markers for assessing stomach cancer risks at the population level. Environ. Health. Perspect. 1992 Nov; 98: 207-10

Any questions regarding availability and pricing of this product? Click here to send us an e-mail.