The%20Functions%20of%20Tomato%20Lycopene%20and%20Its%20Role%20in%20Human%20Health

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The Functions of Tomato Lycopene and Its Role in
Human Health

• Jagdeep Sroa
• http//patialajatti.tripod.com/

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Outline

• Introduction
• Lycopene and related tomato carotenoids
• Structure and spectroscopy
• Lycopene content of common foods
• Intake absorption of lycopene transport
• Site of concentration
• Mechanism of action
• Epidemiological evidence
• Food sources and bioavailability
• Conclusion Future Directions
• References

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Introduction

• Chronic diseases
• Important factors
• Genetic factors, age, lifestyle diet
• Oxidative damage
• Role of antioxidants

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Lycopene and related carotenoids

• What is lycopene?
• Carotenoid, an acyclic isomer of ß-carotene
• Isomeric mixture, with 50 as cis isomers
• Most potent antioxidant
• Predominant carotenoid in human plasma

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Structure and Stereochemistry
http//images.googleom/imghp?hlentabgiq
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Structure and Spectroscopy
http//www.aist.go.jp/RIODB/SDBS/cgi-bin/direct_fr
ame_top.cgi?langeng
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Lycopene Content of Common Foods
Food Type Amount mg per 100 gr. References
Guava Fresh, pink 5.4 7
Tomatoes Fresh, red 3.1-7.7 8
Tomato Juice 7.83 8
Tomato Paste 30.07 8 8
Grapefruit Fresh, pink 3.36 8
Watermelon Fresh, red 4.1 7
Ketchup 16.6 7
Pizza sauce 32.9 8
Spaghetti sauce 17.5 9
Papaya Fresh, red 2.0-5.3 10
http//www.herbalgram.org/lycored/
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Intake Absorption Transport

• Better absorbed from lipid-rich diets cooked,
  rather than raw foods
• Once ingested ? plasma? LDL HDL
• Highest levels found in LDL

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Site of Concentration

• Adrenal glands
• Testes
• Liver
• Prostate gland

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Mechanism of Action
Antioxidant potential
Oxidative damage
Reactive oxygen Species (ROS)
Oxidative stress
Cancer risk
Chronic diseases
Dietary lycopene
Blood and tissue lycopene levels
Cardiovascular Disease risk
Other mechanisms
Metabolic pathways
Gene function regulation
Gap-junction communication
Hormone and Immune modulation
Carcinogen metabolism
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Epidemiological Evidence of Health Benefits

• A) Risk of Cancer
• The Mediterranean Diet
• High intake of tomatoes linked to protective
  effects against digestive tract cancers in a case
  control study and 50 reduction in rates of death
  from cancers at all sites in an elderly U.S.
  population.
• US Health Professionals Study
• Evaluated the intake of various carotenoids,
  inversely related to risk of prostate cancer. A
  reduction in risk of 35 was observed for
  consumption freq. of 10 or more servings per
  tomato products per week.
• Protective effects were stronger with advanced
  prostate.

Jain CK, Agarwal S. Rao AV. Journal article
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Epidemiological Evidence of Health Benefits

• B) Risk of Cardiovascular Disease
• HOPE Study
• Supplementation with 400 IU/d of vitamin E for
  4.5 years did not result in any beneficial
  effects on cardio. Events in patients at high
  risk. In contrast, other studies indicated
  eating tomatoes reduced risk.
• John Hopkins University Study
• Smokers with low levels of circulating
  carotenoids were at an increased risk for
  myocardial infarction. Lower blood lycopene
  levels were also found to be associated with
  increased risk for and death from coronary
  artery disease in a pop. study comparing
  Lithuanian and Swedish cohorts with different
  rates of death from coronary artery disease.

http//collection.nlc-bnc.ca/100/201/300/cdn_medic
al_association/cmaj/vol-163/issue-6/0739.htm
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Food Sources and Bioavailability

• Good dietary sources of lycopene
• Lycopene from processed tomato products vs. raw
  tomatoes
• Bioavailability dosage and presence of other
  carotenoids

http//collection.nlc-bnc.ca/100/201/300/cdn_medic
al_association/cmaj/vol-163/issue-6/0739.htm
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Conclusion Future Directions

• Effectiveness vs. safety
• Health benefits
• Natural tomato oil
• Dietary supplements

http//www.hsph.harvard.edu/Academics/nutr/olestra
/o5.html
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References

• http//www.thewallachfiles.com/informationcenter/l
  ycopene_tomatoes.html
• http//www.herbalgram.org/lycored/
• http//www.drugstore.com/qxc42850_332828_sespider/
  lycopene/lycopene.htm
• http//www.ochsner.org/library/healthguide/en-us/c
  am/topic.asp?hwidhn-2877000
• http//jxb.oupjournals.org/cgi/content/full/53/377
  /2107
• Food, nutrition and the prevention of cancer a
  global perspective. Washington World Cancer
  Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer
  Research 1997.
• Jain CK, Agarwal S, Rao AV. The effect of dietary
  lycopene on bioavailability, tissue distribution,
  in-vivo antioxidant properties and colonic
  preneoplasia in rats. Nutr Res 1999191383-91.
• http//www.nnfa.org/services/science/bg_lycopene.h
  tm
• http//www.universityhealth.org/17392.cfm
• http//www.hsph.harvard.edu/Academics/nutr/olestra
  /o5.html

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THE END