Beyond Lycopene
By Angela M. Miraglio, R.D.
Contributing Editor
Lycopene, tomatoes and health
When researchers first observed that tomato consumption was associated with a lower risk of prostate cancer, they identified lycopene as the probable antioxidant responsible for this benefit. Idamarie Laquatra, Ph.D., R.D., director, global nutrition, H. J. Heinz Company, Pittsburgh, PA, says, “Lycopene appears to give benefit from its antioxidant properties for prostate, breast and other cancers; cardiovascular disease; aging and macular degeneration; digestive health; and osteoporosis — and from its anti-inflammatory activity for cardiovascular disease.”
To date, much research on lycopene and tomatoes has focused on prostate cancer. Laquatra explains that while epidemiologic research shows a modest positive effect for lowering the risk of prostate cancer, animal studies also look good, and a number of human studies indicate that tomatoes might be good for prostate health. She describes an ongoing study, sponsored by the National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, with men who had a prostatectomy in which those treated with whole tomatoes and tomato products had a delay in an increase in their PSA (prostate-specific antigen) test, which is used to help detect prostate cancer. “We still need more human studies. We have case-controlled studies but no gold-standard randomized placebo-controlled, double-blind prospective study, which would be expensive and difficult to do,” she adds.
“Dosing studies have not been done. However, the population studies indicate that 12 to 1 cup of tomatoes or tomato sauce may reduce the risk of prostate cancer,” Laquatra says. And she adds the good news is that there are no known negatives associated with tomato consumption.
Claiming benefit
“It looks like other compounds in tomatoes work in conjunction with lycopene. Nutrition is moving more towards whole foods,” Laquatra says. On Nov. 8, 2005, FDA gave a nod to a qualified health claim for tomatoes and/or tomato sauce and a reduced risk for prostate cancer in response to a petition by the Lycopene Health Claim Coalition — H. J. Heinz Company, Pittsburgh; LycoRed Natural Products Industries, Ltd., Be’er Sheva, Israel; The Morning Star Packing Company, Los Banos, CA; and the Prostate Cancer Foundation, Pleasanton, CA — while denying all proposed claims related to lycopene alone or as a component of tomatoes. The agency specified that 12 to 1 cup of tomatoes and/or sauce per week as the minimum effective, and defined a tomato sauce as “a spiced or nonspiced tomato product that contains at least 8.37% of salt-free tomato solids.”
As with all health claims, a food that uses this new health claim cannot exceed the disqualifying levels for total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol or sodium, and must contain at least 10% Daily Value for vitamins A, C, iron, calcium, protein or dietary fiber per reference amount customarily consumed. Tomatoes easily meet these requirements, with the possible exception of sodium in some tomato sauces. “Both fresh and processed tomatoes are treasures of nutrients, with processed tomatoes having higher levels of nutrients simply because the vegetable is concentrated,” explains Laquatra. “In the American diet, tomatoes and tomato products are among the top food sources of vitamins C, A and E, potassium, and fiber.”
At the same time, in response to a petition from American Longevity, Inc., San Diego, for several proposed claims on the relationship of lycopene and tomato products and the reduction of nine types of cancer, FDA rejected all but four claims related to the consumption of tomatoes and/or tomato sauce, again denying any language that referred to lycopene. However, the wording of the claims for gastric, ovarian and pancreatic cancers cites the number of limited studies and ends with “FDA concludes that it is unlikely that tomatoes reduce the risk of (gastric, ovarian and/or pancreatic) cancer.”
Natural tomato ingredients
While tomatoes rank among the most-consumed vegetables in the United States, a natural tomato extract from LycoRed Natural Products, La Crosse, WI, offers opportunities to further increase the consumption of lycopene and other phytonutrients found in tomatoes. Dave Thomas, director of business development, says the company’s GRAS-approved natural tomato powder was specifically designed for use in a variety of food and beverage applications, while other GRAS-approved products were specifically developed for fortified fruit drinks and dry mixes.
Thomas explained that the natural tomato powder contains 0.8% lycopene and the same composition as a tomato; only the serum and water are removed. Much of the research on lycopene uses these natural tomato extracts, thus the positive effect observed in studies should translate to products formulated with the natural tomato powder. “Clinical studies tend to support health benefits of natural tomato lycopene in promoting prostate, cancer and cardiovascular health, among others,” he says, noting that the benefits largely result from the synergistic effect of the phytonutrient complex found in tomato concentrate versus lycopene alone.
According to the company, about 6 to 10 mg of its natural-tomato extracts is equivalent to the 12 to 1 cup of tomatoes or tomato-sauce serving specified by FDA in the qualified health claim. Either 6 to 10 mg in a single serving, or a split dose of 4 to 8 mg in two servings, could be used in applications.
The true story of lycopene and tomatoes is just beginning. Future research will provide better insight into the link between health and the consumption of lycopene and the phytonutrients found in tomatoes.
