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Source
Naturals
Lycopene
Product Highlights
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Antioxidant support for cardiovascular health.
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Lycopene is the red pigment that gives tomatoes their
bright red color.
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Recent scientific studies on this phytochemical indicate
that lycopene exhibits antioxidant properties that protect the body
against free radical damage and may also support prostate health, a
growing concern among maturing men.
Lycopene is the main active constituent in tomatoes, and it has been gaining
attention in prostate cancer research. However, there is some debate within
the industry as to which is better—lycopene alone or lycopene in combination
with other natural phytochemicals found in tomatoes.
Lycopene is an all-natural extract of tomatoes standardized to contain 6%
lycopene, in addition to a variety of other phytonutrients that occur
naturally in tomatoes, including beta-carotene, tocopherols, phytosterols,
phytoene and phytofluene. According to some research published in the
Journal of the National Cancer Institute, indicated that a combination of
the natural phytochemicals found in tomatoes, not just lycopene alone, can
help lower the risk of deaths resulting from prostate cancer. Studies
conducted by researchers from the Universities showed that rats fed diets
containing whole tomato powder, which contained all the important tomato
phytonutrients, had a lower risk of death from prostate cancer than rats fed
diets containing synthetic lycopene.
Scientists, have also recently released research about lycopene’s role in
reducing the risk of prostate cancer. In a study, published, scientists
found that pure lycopene significantly reduced the effect of the male
hormone androgen on the prostate. According to the researchers, androgens
are thought to play a key role in the development of prostate cancer in men
over a lifetime. In co-operation with the German, scientists used an animal
prostate cancer model to mimic human cancer. The animals were fed lycopene,
vitamin E, a combination of both or a placebo mixture for four weeks, and
then received an injection of prostate cancer cells into their prostates.
These cancer cells grew into tumors within two weeks. Feeding lycopene, as
well as vitamin E, caused an enhanced killing rate of tumor cells, which was
shown by larger areas of dead tissue in the prostate tumors.
According to research leader, J. Elliot, researchers found that lycopene
interfered with local androgen activation by down-regulating
5-alpha-reductase, the key enzyme for the transformation of testosterone to
DHT. In addition, lycopene decreased the expression of two prostatic
cytokines, IGF-I and IL-6, both regarded as risk factors for prostate
cancer.
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