Lycopene

Lycopene

Research has shown that lycopene may protect DNA by its powerful antioxidant activity against singlet oxygen free radicals, dangerous forerunners to cellular damage. Lycopene was found to be the most efficient biological carotenoid to neutralize singlet oxygen - almost 3 times more powerful than beta-carotene. Also, lycopene has a "sparing effect" for beta-carotene: lycopene sacrifices itself to free radicals so that beta-carotene can be reserved for conversion to Vitamin A.

Lycopene has another ability that has excited further investigation. It increases gap junctional intercellular communication, which is the chemical and electrical coupling between neighboring cells. This enables a healthy exchange of the signals that regulate normal growth - thereby offering a protective influence on cellular reproduction.
Lycopene and Prostate Function

One of the most interesting aspects of the way phytonutrients interact with the human body - beyond their broad spectrum antioxidant activity - is their tendency to be "organ specific." Different carotenoids have an affinity for different organs in the body! In the case of lycopene, it's the most plentiful carotenoid in the prostate gland. Studies have explored the link between diets high in lycopene and proper prostate function.

Lycopene
Lycopene is abundant in several fruits including guava, watermelon, pink grapefruit, rosehips and tomatoes. Tomato products (such as tomato sauce, tomato paste and ketchup) are the major dietary source of lycopene. Lycopene is a carotenoid in the same family as ß-carotene.
It is a powerful antioxidant that has shown beneficial activity in several diseases (cardiovascular, cancer, Alzheimer`s disease, multiple sclerosis).
In vitro data conclusively supports an anti-proliferative effect of lycopene and other tomato derived carotenoids on prostate and other cancer cells (data from Guns lab to follow).
Preclinical data in animal models suggests a preventive role for lycopene/tomato extracts (most evident for prostate and lung).
Preventive effects have recently been shown to be enhanced in animals treated with whole tomato extracts vs lycopene (prostate cancer).
Lycopene serum levels have recently been associated with more rapid clearance of an oncogenic HPV infection…… prevention of cervical cancer.

The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be 334,500 new cases of prostate cancer this year. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men and will kill over 40,000 in the United States this year. Lycopene, an natural antioxidant found in a number of fruits and vegetables, is being associated with a reduction in the risk of prostate cancer. Recent studies conducted by a Harvard professor indicate that Lycopene, the red pigment of the tomato, which is a powerful caroteniod, seems to be one of the most potent antioxidants that works for prostate cancer prevention. There is mounting evidence that caroteniods prevent damage to DNA and help keep cancer from forming.

Lycopene offers targeted protection against cancers arising in the prostate (Kucuk et al. 2001), pancreas (Burney et al. 1989), digestive tract (De Stefani 2000), and colon (Nair et al. 2001).
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition added that individuals seeking broad-spectrum colon protection should also include lutein-rich foods in their diet (spinach, broccoli, lettuce, tomatoes, oranges, carrots, celery, and greens) (Slattery et al. 2000).
Canthaxanthin, a less well-known carotenoid, was shown to induce apoptosis and inhibit cell growth in both WiDR colon adenocarcinoma and SK-MEL-2 melanoma cells (Palozza et al. 1998).
Researchers showed that the risk of breast cancer approximately doubled (2.21-fold) among subjects with blood levels of beta-carotene in the lowest quartile, compared with those in the highest quartile. The risk of breast cancer associated with low levels of other carotenoids was similar, that is, a 2.08-fold increased risk if lutein is deficient and a 1.68-fold greater risk if beta-cryptoxanthin is lacking (Toniolo et al. 2001). A Swedish study found that menopausal status has an impact on the protection delivered by carotenoids. Analysis showed that lycopene was associated with decreased breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women, but in premenopausal women, lutein offered greater protection (Hulten et al. 2001).
Leukoplakia (an often precancerous condition marked by white thickened patches on the mucous membranes of the cheeks, gums, or tongue) is responsive to spirulina, a source of proteins, carotenoids, and other micronutrients (Sankaranarayanan et al. 1995). An inverse relationship between beta-carotene and thyroid carcinoma was observed in both papillary and follicular carcinomas (D'Avanzo et al. 1997). A high dietary intake of beta-carotene appears a protective (though modest) factor for the development of ovarian cancer (Huncharek et al. 2001).
Lastly, Japanese researchers showed that all the carotenoids inhibited hepatic (liver) invasion, probably through antioxidant properties (Kozuki et al. 2000).
Men who consume 10 or more servings of tomato products per week reduce their risk of prostate cancer by about 35%. The American Chemical Society in August 2001 reported that 32 (largely African-American) patients diagnosed with prostate cancer and awaiting radical prostatectomy were placed on diets that included tomato sauce, providing 30 mg a day of lycopene. After 3 weeks, mean serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) concentrations fell by 17.5%, oxidative burden by 21.3%, DNA damage by 40%, while programmed cell death increased threefold in cancer cells (Holzman 2002). Part of lycopene's protection involves the ability of carotenoids to counteract the proliferation of cancer cells induced by insulin-like growth factors (Agarwal et al. 2000a).

Lycopene

Lycopene 15mg 30sg SN1290 $NZ21.98

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