Abstract
Epidemiological studies suggest that increased tomato consumption decreases the risk of prostate cancer. Lycopene (LYC) is often considered the carotenoid responsible for the beneficial effect of tomatoes, yet the bioavailability of LYC from various sources remains elusive. Our laboratory has utilized tomato powder, crystalline LYC dissolved in oil, or commercial LYC beadlets to explore the absorption, bioavailability, and potential health benefits of LYC. In a short-term feeding study, male Fisher 344 rats were provided with oral supplementation of crystalline LYC (~0.7 mg/d) dissolved in cottonseed oil or fed a 10% tomato powder diet (~12 μg LYC/g diet, AIN93G based) for 4 d. In a long-term feeding study, male Copenhagen rats injected with Dunning R3327-H prostate adenocarcinoma were fed AIN93G based diets: high LYC (224 μg LYC/g diet) and low LYC (23 μg LYC/g diet), both in the form of commercial beadlets, or a 10% tomato powder diet (~12 μg LYC/g diet) for 22 wks. Total LYC concentrations in liver, serum, Dunning R3327-H tumors, prostates, and testes were quantified through RP-HPLC. Results from both studies show at least a 2 fold greater LYC accumulation in tissues and serum from tomato powder-fed rats as compared to rats provided with the other highly bioavailable LYC sources. These unexpected results of enhanced LYC bioavailability from the tomato powder may be attributed to the presence of other tomato antioxidants, including phytoene, phytofluene, polyphenols and vitamins C and E. (Supported by AICR #013061/IFAFS #00-52101-9695)
Published Version
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