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Effect of the consumption of tomato paste on plasma prostate-specific antigen levels in patients with benign prostate
1Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina: Ciências Médicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil. magdaed@terra.com.br
Abstract:
The consumption of tomatoes and tomato products has been associated with a reduced risk of prostate cancer. We observed a decrease of 10.77% in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in patients with benign prostate hyperplasia who were submitted to daily ingestion of tomato paste. This was an experimental rather than a controlled study with a sample of 43 men ranging in age from 45 to 75 years, all with histological diagnoses of benign prostate hyperplasia and plasma PSA levels of 4-10 ng/mL. All patients received 50 g of tomato paste once a day for 10 consecutive weeks and PSA levels were analyzed before, during and after the consumption of tomato paste. ANOVA for repeated measures was used to compare PSA levels before, during and after the consumption of tomato paste. The mean +/- SD PSA level was 6.51 +/- 1.48 ng/mL at baseline and 5.81 +/- 1.58 ng/mL (P = 0.005) after 10 weeks. Acceptance was good in 88.3, regular in 9.3, and poor in 2.3% of the patients. Dietary ingestion of 50 g of tomato paste per day for 10 weeks significantly reduced mean plasma PSA levels in patients with benign prostate hyperplasia, probably as a result of the high amount of lycopene in tomato paste. This was not a prostate cancer prevention study, but showed some action of tomato paste in prostate biology. The development of prostate cancer is typically accompanied by an increase in plasma PSA levels, thus any intervention that affects plasma PSA levels can suggest an impact in the progression of disease.
Insights
Daily tomato paste consumption significantly lowered prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in men with benign prostate hyperplasia. This study suggests tomato paste impacts prostate biology, potentially influencing disease progression.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Nutritional Science
- Oncology
Background:
- Tomato consumption is linked to reduced prostate cancer risk.
- Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels can indicate prostate health and disease progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of daily tomato paste intake on PSA levels in men with benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH).
Main Methods:
- An experimental study involving 43 men (45-75 years) with BPH and PSA levels of 4-10 ng/mL.
- Participants consumed 50g of tomato paste daily for 10 weeks.
- PSA levels were analyzed pre-study, during, and post-consumption using ANOVA for repeated measures.
Main Results:
- A statistically significant reduction in mean PSA levels from 6.51 ng/mL to 5.81 ng/mL (P=0.005) was observed after 10 weeks.
- The daily intake of 50g tomato paste resulted in a 10.77% decrease in PSA levels.
- High acceptance rates (88.3% good) suggest good tolerability of tomato paste.
Conclusions:
- Dietary intake of tomato paste can significantly reduce plasma PSA levels in patients with BPH.
- The lycopene content in tomato paste is a likely factor in this observed effect on prostate biology.
- While not a prostate cancer prevention study, the findings suggest a potential impact on disease progression by modulating PSA levels.