Impact of Lycopene on Human Health

• Lycopene is a bright red carotenoid pigment found in tomatoes. It is an unsaturated carotenoid pigment, similar to beta-carotene.
• The name is derived from Solanum lycopersicum.  The tomato is the edible berry of the plant Solanum lycopersicum, also known as a tomato plant.                                                                  
• It is used as a food colouring.
• It is a potent antioxidant.
• It is an acyclic isomer of beta-carotene.
• It lacks beta-ionone ring.
• It is a long chain of conjugated double bonds with two open end rings.It’s configuration enables it to inactivate free radical.
• Because of it’s lipophillic nature,lycopene concentrate in adrenal,liver,testes & prostate.
• Trans form is available in nature while cis form is present in body.
• It’s singlet oxygen quenching potential is 2 times greater than Beta-carotene & 100 times greater than Alpha-tocopherol.
• Antioxidant effects are increased when lycopene is combined with lutein, and the growth of cancer cells is decreased when it is combined with vitamin D or E.

• BENEFITS OF LYCOPENE

• A Potent Antioxidant.
• Having Antimutagenic, Antibacterial & Antifungal property.
• Prevent cancer especially prostate cancer, mouth cancer, lung cancer,etc.
• Protects skin, reduces aging.
• Prevents  age related macular degeneration
• Cures exercise induced asthma.
• May prevent osteoporosis.
• Prevents hypercholesterolemia, atherosclerosis & other cardiovascular diseases.
• Prevents infertility in men.
• Promotes brain & immune function.
• Cures diabetes.
• Cures cataracts

• SOURCES OF LYCOPENE

• Tomatoes
• Grapefruit (pink)
• Watermelon
• Guava (pink)
• Rosehips
• Papaya
• Gac (Momordica Cochinchinensis Spreng)
• Fungus Blakeslea trispora.

• SIDE EFFECTS OF LYCOPENE

• Excessive consumption of this carotenoid can cause a noticeable orange skin discoloration. This condition is called lycopenodermia.
• Lycopenodermia is a harmless condition with deep orange skin coloring.
• The condition has been shown to be reversible by lowering lycopene intake for a few days to a few weeks.
• Cause cellular damage with ciagerette smoke.
• Cause intestinal complications including nausea,vomiting, indigestion, diarrhoea, gas& bloating.

• Cause potential interference with cancer treatment.

• LYCOPENE SUPPLEMENTS
• LycoRed, Jagsonpal,Lycopenin are some supplements available in market.

• Dosage of lycopene should be given about 5 – 15 milligrams daily for general use.
• Mostly available in form of tablets,capsules & soft gels.

• DOSAGE

          TRANSPORT OF LYCOPENE

Lycopene are passively diffuse from the micelles across the intestinal cell membrane into the mucosal cell.They are taken up by chylomicrons which transport them to the blood via lymphatic system to liver. From liver,lycopene carried by LDL.

ABSORPTION OF LYCOPENE

Absorption of lycopene is limited to a range of 10-30 percent.Majority is excreted in faeces. Low absorption & high excretion rate is partly due to fact that the carotenoids are tightly bound to large molecules,forming protein complexes in foods. Intestinal absorption decreases as intake of other carotenoid increases. Cholesterol-lowering drugs like Probucol decrease the absorption of lycopene. Food substances such as mineral oil, red palm oil, fat substitutes, and pectin may also decrease the absorption of lycopene, whereas beta-carotene,medium-chain triglycerides, and dietary oils such as olive oil may enhance its absorption.

BIOAVAILABILITY OF LYCOPENE

Cooked lycopene is more bioavailable than raw & it also enhance in presence of small amount of fat and oil. Absorption of lycopene depends on presence of fat in intestine. At least 5-10 g of fat in a meal is required. Seperation of carotenoids from protein complexes occurs upon heating which increases their bioavailability. Cis form is more bioavailable.

 MECHANISM OF ACTION

Lycopene prevents oxidative damage in cell membrane ,DNA ,lipids & protein. This damage arises from exposure to free radicals. Free radicals are molecules with an unpaired electron in their outer atomic orbital,causing molecule to be extremely reactive.

ENVIRONMENTAL SOURCES OF FREE RADICALS

Environmental toxins & air pollutants such as ozone & nitrogen dioxide.

• Sunlight
• Ionizing radiation
• Certain drugs
• Cigarettes smoke

IMPACT OF LYCOPENE ON DEGENERATIVE DISEASES : 

 1. CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES

Oxidative damage is major cause of CVD.

Oxidised LDL can cause atherogenesis.

Along with vit E, lycopene may protect heart against LDL oxidation.

Reactive oxidative species found in cigarettes smoke, hence smokers are at increased risk for development of CVD

2. MACULAR DEGENERATION

Progressive deterioration of macula.

Macula is a 3-5 mm area in the retina responsible for central vision.

Lycopene reduces macular degeneration

3. OSTEOPOROSIS

Osteoporosis is a disease that causes the bones to become weak and prone to fractures.

Lycopene, a potent antioxidant found helps to prevent bone loss and osteoporosis due to oxidative stress.

 It inhibits ROS production and the formation and activity of osteoclasts.

Lycopene stimulates alkaline phosphatase indicating osteoblasts are at work for building bone.

4. PROSTATE CANCER

Increased lycopene consumption is inversely related to insulin growth factor which is a risk factor for prostate cancer.

Lycopene inhibit tumour growth by increasing gap junctional communication. Lycopene act as scavenger for singlet oxygen thus inhibit DNA damage which leads to cancer.

5. AGEING AND WRINKLES

It shields skin from premature aging.

It improves cellular function to keep skin healthy & young.

It improves junction between cells & thus improves texture.

It enhances skin ability to produce collagen & reduces DNA damage that leads to wrinkles.

6. DIABETES

Oxidative stress induced by reactive oxygen species,generated due to hyperglycemia in diabetes causes retinopathy,neuropathy & nephropathy.

Lycopene are potent antioxidant that inactivate ROS.

Lycopene inhibit platelet aggregation in diabetes.

Lycopene increases insulin action & thus prevent diabetes

7. OTHER DISEASES

Lycopene deficiency have been identified in HIV.

Lycopene deficiency decreases self care ability in elderly and also associated with Parkinson’s disease.

Lycopene reduce risk of preeclampsia.

Lycopene prevents inadequate growth of the fetus.

Lycopene prevents HPV infection.

Lycopene prevents Gingivitis.

Lycopene also decreases C-reactive protein that is a risk factor for heart attacks.

Lycopene inhibit foam cell formation,which is a risk factor for CVD.

Lycopene can boost sperm concentration & motility in infertile men.

Lycopene can protect sperm DNA from the effects of oxidative stress.

In vitro, animal, and clinical studies suggest that lycopene may attenuate liver injury and possibly prevent the development of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Scientific evidence for lycopene use in pregnancy is not available; however, no adverse events have been reported in association with the consumption of lycopene-containing foods during pregnancy.

RESEARCH FINDINGS :

• Two glasses of tomato juice a day strengthens bones and can ward off osteoporosis. Osteoporosis International ,2010
• Tomato Juice May Reduce Damaging Side Effects of Treatment for Prostate Cancer Patients. AICR,2011
• Low serum lycopene and beta-carotene increase the risk of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in men. European Journal of Public Health ,2012
• In a recently published systematic review and meta-analysis,Chinese investigators found that consumers of the highest intake of raw tomato had a 19% decreased risk of Prostate Cancer compared with those who had the lowest intake. Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology ,2013
• In a study, it was found that lycopene improved the widening of the blood vessels by over a half (53%) compared to baseline in those taking the supplement. PLOS One ,2014
• A higher intake by postmenopausal women of the natural antioxidant lycopene, found in foods like tomatoes, watermelon and papaya, may lower the risk of renal cell carcinoma, a type of kidney cancer. Cancer, 2015

                                                                                                            CONCLUSION

“Two glasses of tomato juice a day strengthens your body,boost your immune system,nourishes your skin, protect your heart & other vital organs also.

Thanks 

Written By

Dr. Richa Srivastava