NEWS

Tomato Compounds Help
Fight Against Prostate Cancer

Naturally-Occurring Antioxidants,
Carotenoids and Phytonutrients
Identified As Beneficial For Cancer
Risk Reduction, Supported By
Important New Research

Usually occurring in older men,
National Cancer Institute estimates
that there will be more than 217,000
new cases of prostate cancer in the US this year, resulting
in over 32,000 deaths.

Scientists at the University of Illinois have received a grant
from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to trace how
tomato compounds help to ensure a reduced risk of prostate
cancer in humans.

"Scientists believe that carotenoids, the pigments that
give the red, yellow, and orange colors to some fruits and
vegetables, provide the cancer-preventive benefits in
tomatoes," explained research scientists from the
Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition,
Illinois University.

The researchers explained how they use isotopic labeling
of three tomato carotenoids with heavier than normal carbon
atoms which will allow tracking of the tomato components'
absorption and metabolism in the body. "We use the tomato
cell as a bio-factory to produce stable isotopically labeled
tomato carotenoids for human metabolism trials" they said.
"This tool will allow us to examine tomato carotenoid
absorption and metabolism using non-radioactive tracers. 
This will provide key information about the health aspects
of the tomato carotenoids lycopene, phytoene and
phytofluene." they added.

Natural Bioactive Nutritive Compounds
Currently it is not clear to what extent the tomato carotenoids
contribute to chronic disease prevention and the tool promises
to help scientists clarify absorption and metabolism of these
bioactive compounds.

"We have two questions we'd like to answer. First, are the
carotenoids themselves bioactive, or are their metabolic or
oxidative products responsible for their benefits? Second,
is lycopene alone responsible for the tomato's benefits,
or are other carotenoids also important?" they said.

The team's previous studies have shown that whole
tomato powder, which contains all of the fruit's nutritional
components, is more effective against prostate cancer than
lycopene alone.

Lycopene, which gives tomatoes their red color, has
received a lot of attention and promoted as an ingredient
in multivitamin supplements, but two little-known colorless
carotenoids, phytoene and phytofluene, probably also have
benefits.

The researchers optimized the amount of carotenoids
in tomato cell cultures by treating already high-achieving
tomato varieties with two plant enzyme blockers. The best
performers were then chosen for culturing and carbon-13
labeling.The scientists grew tomato cells with non-radioactive
carbon-13 sugars, yielding carbon molecules that are heavier
than the 12-carbon molecules that exist elsewhere.

Lycopene, Phytoene, and Phytofluene

They added: "These heavy carbon molecules are then
incorporated into the carotenoids in the tomato cell cultures.
The result is that researchers will be able to track the activity
of lycopene, phytoene, and phytofluene and their metabolites."

The grant was made to the University of Illinois and Ohio State University.

Editor's Note: This article is not intended to provide medical advice,
diagnosis or treatment.

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