How Lycopene fights Cancer
Harvard researchers reported in a 2002 article in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute that eating tomato products on a regular basis is associated with a reduced risk of prostate cancer. The research included more than 47,000 participants. Researchers then continued to follow the men for several more years to learn more about the specific foods that seem to protect men from prostate cancer.
That research was published this year -- also in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. The study reports men who ate tomato sauce at least twice a week were about 20 percent less likely to develop prostate cancer when compared to men who rarely ate it. Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Fla., is conducting a study to look at the mechanism by which lycopene actually stops the promotion of prostate cancer cells. For the study, men with cancer who are having their prostate surgically removed are participating. Generally, the men wait six weeks after diagnosis before they have the surgery. During the six-week period, each participant is given one of three doses of lycopene or a placebo. Researchers will then compare the cancer cells from the presurgical prostate cancer biopsies and to those after surgery to compare the cell growth. So far, more than 50 patients have participated. The preliminary results from this study are expected by the summer of 2004. Lycopene supplements are available on the market, but researchers say the supplements may not offer the same level of health protection. Experts point out that so far most studies have looked at intake of foods in the context of a whole diet. Therefore, including lycopene-rich foods is recommended over taking a supplement.
The best way to include lycopene in your diet is to eat more processed tomato products. Research shows the body better absorbs lycopene when tomatoes are processed. While raw tomatoes have some lycopene, it takes more of them to make the processed foods, meaning there is more lycopene in each serving. Below is a list of foods and their lycopene content:
Lycopene content in foods (mg/100g) -
Tomato paste 42.2
- Spaghetti sauce 21.9
- Chili sauce 19.5
- Tomato ketchup 15.9
- Tomato juice 9.5
- Pink grapefruit 4.0
- Raw tomato 3.0
Jim Shaw
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