DSM Scientists Find Lycopene Benefits Prostate Health

HEERLEN, Netherlands—Epidemiological evidence links consumption of lycopene to reduced prostate cancer risk, according to a study published online in the Nov. 15, 2004, issue of the FASEB Journal (www.fasebj.org).

DSM Nutritional Products scientists investigated the effect of lycopene in normal prostate tissue to gain insight into the mechanisms by which lycopene can contribute to primary prostate cancer prevention. Rats were supplemented with 200 ppm (parts per milliliter) lycopene for up to eight weeks. Researchers measured the uptake into individual prostate lobes and analyzed lycopene-induced gene regulations in dorsal and lateral lobes after the eight-week supplementation. Lycopene accumulated in all four prostate lobes over time, with all-trans lycopene being the predominant isoform. In addition, the lateral lobe showed a significantly higher total lycopene content than other prostate lobes.

Transcriptomics analysis revealed that lycopene treatment mildly, but significantly, reduced gene expression of androgen-metabolizing enzymes and androgen targets. Moreover, local expression of IGF-I was decreased in the lateral lobe. Lycopene also consistently reduced transcript levels of proinflammatory cytokines, immunoglobulins, and immunoglobulin receptors in the lateral lobe.This indicates that lycopene reduced inflammatory signals in the lateral prostate lobe.

The researchers concluded lycopene reduced local prostatic androgen signaling, IGF-I expression, and basal inflammatory signals in normal prostate tissue. All of these mechanisms can contribute to the epidemiologically observed prostate cancer risk reduction by lycopene.