Phytonutrients - Lycopene

Question 1

Lycopene:

Answer 1

Lycopene is a fat-soluble red pigment produced by plants. It is a non-vitamin A carotenoid

Lycopene= from the neo-Latin, Lycopersicum, the tomato species

Question 2

Food sources:

Answer 2

• Tomatoes (highest source) — more abundant in paste and purée.
• Guava.
• Pink grapefruit.
• Watermelon.
• Papaya.

Question 3

Food table:

Answer 3

Food: Serving: Lycopene (mg):
Tomato paste, canned: 1 cup 75.4
Tomato puree, canned: 1 cup 54.4
Marinara sauce: 1 cup 40.0
Tomato soup, canned: 1 cup 24.5
Vegetable juice cocktail: 1 cup 23.3
Tomato juice, canned: 1 cup 22.0
Watermelon, raw: 1 wedge 13.0
Tomato, raw: 1 cup 4.6
Ketchup: 1 tablespoon 2.5
Pink grapefruit, raw: ½ grapefruit 1.7
Baked beans, canned: 1 cup 1.3

Question 4

Functions & Therapeutic uses:

Answer 4

• Anti-cancer
• Prosdtate health
• Cardiovascular health

Question 5

Anti-cancer:

Answer 5

Therapeutic uses:
* A powerful antioxidant, impedes reactions initiated by free radicals. Prevents oxidative damage to DNA.
* Modulates expression of cell cycle regulatory proteins, inhibiting cancer cell growth.
* Decreases inflammation (which medicates tumour growth) through reductions in COX-2, interleukin-1 and 6 and TNF-α. It also inhibits NF-kB.
* Increased intake is associated with decreased risk for several cancer types including prostate, breast, cervix, lung, stomach, pancreas and colorectal.

Question 6

Prostate health:

Answer 6

Therapeutic uses:
* Lycopene naturally accumulates in in the prostate.
* Intake has shown to inhibit progression of benign prostatic hyperplasia and to decrease elevated PSA.
* Additionally, it has been shown to induce apoptosis and suppress cell growth in androgen-sensitive cell lines.
* Increased dietary intake and higher blood levels of lycopene are linked with lower prostate cancer risk.
PSA= Prostate Specific Antigen

Question 7

Cardiovascular health:

Answer 7

Therapeutic uses:
* Prevents oxidation of circulating LDLs, reducing uptake by macrophages in the arterial wall, ↓plaque formation.
* Intake of tomato juice is linked with improvements in endothelial dysfunction.

Question 8

Dosage:

Answer 8

• General recommended intake based on current evidence is 8–22 mg / day.
• Therapeutic doses of up to 75 mg / day are used.
• Intake from dietary sources is preferable (synergistic effects of other phytonutrients).
• Lycopene is better absorbed from foods sources that have been processed using methods such as juicing and cooking (heating). This liberates it from the cell matrix.
• Mixing with oils and fats increases bio-availability.
• • 1 tbsp of tomato paste or purée contains approx. 5 mg of lycopene

Question 9

Safety:

Answer 9

• No toxicities have been reported.
• High intakes can cause skin discolouration; known as lycopenederma (rare and resolves on discontinuation of lycopene).
• Safety of supplemental doses during pregnancy and lactation has not been established; dietary intake is considered safe.
  Derma, from Greek for skin

Question 10

Tomato paste recipe:

Answer 10

• https://thethingswellmake.com/easy-homemade-tomato-paste-recipe/#wprm-recipe-container-10362

Question 11

Current government:

Answer 11

• Current government guidelines recommend to eat FIVE portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables every day.
• Is enough to get a sufficient amount of phytonutrients? Rewrite the guidelines to consider phytonutrient requirements.