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Published on: March 6, 2018
Antioxidant effects of lycopene in African American men with prostate cancer or benign prostate hyperplasia: a
Richard B van Breemen1, Roohollah Sharifi, Marlos Viana
1Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, University of Illinois College of Pharmacy, Chicago, IL 60612, USA. Breemen@uic.edu
Abstract:
Consumption of tomato products is associated with a decreased risk of developing prostate cancer, and lycopene, the red carotenoid in the tomato, is a potent antioxidant that might contribute to this chemoprevention activity. A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of 105 African American men veterans, recommended for prostate biopsy to detect cancer, was carried out to investigate whether oral administration of lycopene increases lycopene levels in blood and prostate tissue and lowers markers of oxidative stress. Urology patients were randomly assigned to receive 30 mg/d of lycopene as a tomato oleoresin or placebo for 21 days prior to prostate biopsy for possible diagnosis of prostate cancer. A total of 47 men had a diagnosis of prostate cancer, and 58 men had a diagnosis of benign prostate hyperplasia. Diet, smoking, and drinking habits were assessed. For the men receiving lycopene, the mean lycopene concentration increased from 0.74 ± 0.39 to 1.43 ± 0.61 micromol/L in plasma (P < 0.0001) and from 0.45 ± 0.53 to 0.59 ± 0.47 pmol/mg in prostate tissue (P = 0.005). No significant changes in the DNA oxidation product 8-oxo-deoxyguanosine and the lipid peroxidation product malondialdehyde were observed in prostate tissue and plasma, respectively, as a result of lycopene administration.
Insights
Lycopene supplementation increased lycopene levels in blood and prostate tissue in men undergoing prostate biopsy. However, it did not significantly reduce markers of oxidative stress, suggesting limited impact on chemoprevention in this group.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional Science
- Oncology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Tomato consumption is linked to reduced prostate cancer risk.
- Lycopene, a tomato carotenoid, is a potent antioxidant with potential chemopreventive properties.
- Oxidative stress plays a role in prostate cancer development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of oral lycopene administration on lycopene levels in blood and prostate tissue.
- To assess whether lycopene supplementation lowers markers of oxidative stress in men at risk for prostate cancer.
- To evaluate lycopene's chemoprevention potential in a randomized controlled trial.
Main Methods:
- A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial involving 105 African American men veterans.
- Participants received 30 mg/day of lycopene (tomato oleoresin) or placebo for 21 days before prostate biopsy.
- Blood and prostate tissue samples were analyzed for lycopene concentration and oxidative stress markers.
Main Results:
- Lycopene supplementation significantly increased lycopene concentrations in plasma (P < 0.0001) and prostate tissue (P = 0.005).
- No significant changes were observed in the DNA oxidation product 8-oxo-deoxyguanosine in prostate tissue.
- No significant changes were observed in the lipid peroxidation product malondialdehyde in plasma.
Conclusions:
- Oral lycopene administration effectively increases lycopene levels in blood and prostate tissue.
- Lycopene supplementation did not significantly reduce key markers of oxidative stress in this study population.
- Further research is needed to clarify lycopene's role in prostate cancer chemoprevention.
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