Tomatoes Really Do Reduce Prostate Cancer Risk

Source: Tufts University
April 30, 2002 (Reviewed: April 6, 2004)

Pizza got a media boost a couple of years ago with news that a diet that included plenty of tomato sauce seemed to reduce the risk of prostate cancer. The key ingredient is thought to be lycopene, a carotenoid (like beta-carotene) that gives tomatoes their characteristic red color. A new study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute adds to what scientists know of this cancer-fighting nutrient.

Continued analysis

Harvard researchers reported several years ago that the regular consumption of tomato products -- especially tomato sauce -- was associated with a reduced risk of prostate cancer among the more than 40,000 participants of the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study. This current study followed this same group of men for several more years; the researchers were hoping to learn more about the specific types of foods or nutrients that seem to afford the men some protection from prostate cancer.

As in the previous study, men who ate tomato sauce at least twice a week were about 20% less likely to develop prostate cancer when compared with men who rarely ate it. The researchers also found a link between intake of the carotenoid lycopene and a reduced risk of prostate cancer. This was still the case after they adjusted for consumption of other foods, like produce and olive oil, known to have health benefits. As in the previous study, the benefits appeared to come primarily from cooked products, rather than from raw tomatoes.

How it may work

Lycopene is a carotenoid that -- unlike beta-carotene -- is not converted by the body to vitamin A. This means that it is available to act as an antioxidant in the cells, helping to reduce the damage caused by everyday wear and tear. This appears to be particularly important in the prostate, which is prone, in older men, to chronic inflammation. Tomato sauce is an especially good vehicle for lycopene because it is cooked. That seems to make the lycopene more available. In addition, the sauce usually contains some fat, which aids with absorption.

Advice to consumers

Can lycopene supplements offer the same level of health protection? Probably not. Remember that the study looked at intake of foods, in the context of a whole diet. Scientists think that it is the lycopene in tomatoes that offers some protection from disease, but they point out that tomato products are also rich sources of vitamins A and C and potassium. Also, tomatoes figure prominently in a "Mediterranean type" diet, which includes plenty of fruits and vegetables and olive oil, and lesser amounts of meats and animal fat. It's quite possible that several dietary factors work together to provide some protection against prostate cancer.

Source

• A prospective study of tomato products, lycopene, and prostate cancer risk. E. Giovannucci, E. Rimm, Y. Liu,  et al., J Natl Cancer Inst. , 2002, vol. 94, pp. 391--398

Related Links
Lycopene and its Emerging Role in Disease Prevention
Saw Palmetto May Relieve Prostate Problems
Diet and Stress Reduction May Help in Prostate Cancer
Oxidative Damage, Part III: Nature's Approach to Protection
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