Lycopene supplements may suppress cancer growth

Nutrition Health Review,  Summer, 2004  

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A study published in the Fall 2004 issue of Journal of Medicinal Food demonstrated that lycopene supplements decreased the proliferation of cancer cells at certain intervals of the study.

Many studies on cancer now test apoptosis, the natural elimination of harmful cancer-causing cells. In this study, researchers treated LCNaP human prostate cancer cells with a lycopene supplement to determine whether lycopene would induce apoptosis to eliminate the cells or even simply suppress their growth. Treatment included 0.1-, 1-, and 5-micromole ([micro]M) doses of lycopene, followed by examination after 6, 24, and 48 hours. The scientists also looked for changes in the cell cycle to identify any slowing down or speeding up of cell growth resulting from the lycopene.

Researchers saw an inhibition rate of 31 percent in cancerous cell growth in lycopene-treated cells, when compared with the placebo-treated cells after 48 hours of treatment with the 1-[micro]M lycopene formulation. The maximum inhibitory effect, however, was seen with the 5-[micro]M dose at each time interval. Apoptosis was present at the 5-[micro]M formulation at all time points and was heightened during the 24-hour and 48-hour treatments.

The scientists observed no changes in the cell cycle of the placebo-treated groups, whereas they noted a dramatic 16 percent reduction of cancerous cells in the lycopene-treated cells during a significant cell-growth cycle (the S-phase).

The results indicate that lycopene supplements decreased the number of cancer cells, probably by increasing apoptosis and slowing cancer cell growth cycles. These findings suggest that supplements containing lycopene may have cancer-fighting abilities.

Lycopene is considered one of the most potent antioxidants available in the food supply. This natural plant pigment provides foods such as tomatoes, pink grapefruit, watermelon, and guava with their natural red hues.

COPYRIGHT 2004 Vegetus Publications
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