Food as Medicine; Lycopene

Food has been used to treat health issues within humans over many generations. Different constituents within foods have been proven to treat specific ailments. Examples of these constituents include lycopene in tomatoes.
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Prostate cancer occurs due to abnormal cells in the prostate gland growing at an accelerated rate forming a malignant tumour. Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men in Australia with a mortality rate of 3,500 per annum (Cancer Australia, 2019). Symptoms of prostate cancer involve frequent urination, blood in urine or semen and pain in the back or pelvis. Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) are part of the Solanaceae family and contain the carotenoid, lycopene which has been highlighted in the prevention of prostate cancer.
 
Lycopene has potent antioxidant properties which increases its effects especially against prostate cancer. Studies have shown that epidemiological evidence of dietary consumption of lycopene from tomatoes present a 35% reduction in prostate cancer (Tan et al, 2012). From 1986 until 1998, 121 males between the ages of 40-75 were studied based on their consumption of lycopene from tomato products (Giovannuci et al, 2002). Conclusions from this long-term study indicated that males who had a higher intake of this lycopene had a reduced risk of prostate cancer (Giovannuci et al, 2002). Observation of prostate cancer patients who consumed lycopene at 30mg/day proved to reduce leukocyte 8-OHdG after three weeks, thus proving the role of lycopene as an effective antioxidant and anticancer (Devaraj et al, 2009).
 
To maximise results in reducing the risk of prostate cancer, the consumption of 15-30mg of lycopene per day from tomato products. It is recommended that processed tomato products (tomato paste/sauces) are consumed as heat improves the bioavailability of lycopene by dislocating cell walls thus improving absorption. The consumption of tomato products alongside dietary fats also enhances bioavailability as lycopene is a lipid soluble compound (Burton-Freeman, 2014). There is no caution of toxicity or contraindications from the consumption of lycopene from tomato products within low to medium doses, although high doses may cause pro-oxidation.
 
Prostate cancer occurs due to abnormal cells in the prostate gland growing at an accelerated rate forming a malignant tumour. Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men in Australia with a mortality rate of 3,500 per annum (Cancer Australia, 2019). Symptoms of prostate cancer involve frequent urination, blood in urine or semen and pain in the back or pelvis. Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) are part of the Solanaceae family and contain the carotenoid, lycopene which has been highlighted in the prevention of prostate cancer.
 
Lycopene has potent antioxidant properties which increases its effects especially against prostate cancer. It is recommended that the client consumes processed tomato products (tomato paste/sauce) as heat improves the bioavailability of lycopene by dislocating cell walls thus improving absorption. The consumption of tomato products alongside dietary fats also enhances bioavailability as lycopene is a lipid soluble compound (Burton-Freeman, 2014). There is no caution of toxicity or contraindications from the consumption of lycopene from tomato products within low to medium doses, although high doses may cause pro-oxidation. Studies have shown that epidemiological evidence of dietary consumption of lycopene from tomatoes present a 35% reduction in prostate cancer (Tan et al, 2012). From 1986 until 1998, 121 males between the ages of 40-75 were studied based on their consumption of lycopene from tomato products (Giovannuci et al, 2002). Conclusions from this long-term study indicated that males who had a higher intake of this lycopene had a reduced risk of prostate cancer (Giovannuci et al, 2002). Observation of prostate cancer patients who consumed lycopene at 30mg/day proved to reduce leukocyte 8-OHdG after three weeks, thus proving the role of lycopene as an effective antioxidant and anticancer (Devaraj et al, 2009).