Natural tomato lycopene supplements may lower risk of prostate cancer

Vegetarian Times, May, 2002

The word is out. Increased dietary intake of fruits and vegetables rich in carotenoids helps to lower the risk of cancer. Epidemiological evidence, and now, clinical research is pointing toward prostate-specific benefits of one particular carotenoid-rich dietary mainstay: the tomato. * Research presented at the 90th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research provided evidence that an all natural tomato extract supplement may help to prevent prostate cancer. * Scientists, led by Omer Kucuk, M.D., followed 30 men with localized prostate cancer who were scheduled to undergo surgical removal of the prostate. For three weeks prior to surgery, the study participants were randomly assigned to receive either no intervention or, 250mg, twice daily, of Lyc-O-Mato[c], a standardized, natural tomato extract that provides a full complement of lycopene and other tomato carotenoids. * Following removal the prostates were analyzed to determine whether there were any differences between the two study groups. The investigators found that the Lyc-O-Mato[c], treated group had both smaller tumors, which were more Likely to be confined to the prostate and declining levels of serum PSA. In addition, the tumors in patients who consumed the natural tomato lycopene complex showed signs of regression and decreased malignancy.

* Dr. Kucuk stated that "To our knowledge, tiffs is the first report from o randomized prospective clinical trial showing the efficacy of a natural tomato lycopene supplement against prostate cancer. Furthermore, our findings suggest that lycopene as tomato extract may not only help prevent prostate cancer, but also may be useful in treating prostate cancer."