Is there a benefit from lycopene supplementation in men with prostate cancer? A systematic review

Abstract

Lycopene has a chemopreventive effect against prostate cancer but its role in prostate cancer progression is unknown; many patients increase their intake of lycopene, although there are no evidence-based guidelines to suggest an effect. Our objective was to conduct a systematic review of literature to evaluate the association between lycopene intake and prostate cancer progression. MEDLINE, EMBASE CINAHL Plus, Web of Science, AMED and CENTRAL databases were systematically searched using terms for lycopene and prostate cancer progression to identify studies published before January 2009. Eight intervention studies were identified (five with no control group; one with an unmatched control group; and two randomized controlled trials (RCTs)). An inverse association was observed between lycopene intake and PSA levels in six studies. The rates of progression measured by bone scan in one RCT were lower in the intervention group. Lycopene resulted in lowering cancer-related symptoms (pain, urinary tract symptoms), and severe toxicity or intolerance was not evident. However, the evidence available to date is insufficient to draw a firm conclusion with respect to lycopene supplementation in prostate cancer patients and larger RCTs are required in broader patient groups.

Effect of carotenoid supplementation on plasma carotenoids, inflammation and visual development in preterm infants

“…Accumulating evidence has implicated carotenoid consumption with a decreased risk of age-related diseases including adult-onset macular degeneration, 2 atherosclerosis 3 and certain tumors. 4 It is relevant that perinatal inflammation, often caused or exacerbated by oxidative stress, features in the pathogenesis of common diseases of prematurity. [5][6][7] Several investigators have suggested dietary carotenoids might enhance retinal function in infants [8][9][10][11] and protect against inflammation and oxidative damage.…”

New Developments in Lycopene Analysis by Spectroscopic and Chromatographic Techniques, Accompanied With Mathematical Modelling

“…The reduced risk of prostate cancer is associated only with lycopene in plasma and was related to a lowered risk of aggressive prostate cancers in 578 men who developed the disease over a 13-year period and a set of 1294 matched controls (age, marital status, and smoking) [115]. Other studies confirm the reduced risk of prostate cancer due to lycopene supplementation [116]. Some in vitro studies reveal the antiproliferative effect on prostate cancer cell lines with the combination of lycopene and a-tocopherol while this effect was not seen with lycopene alone [117].…”

Primärprävention urologischer Tumore: Prostatakarzinom

“…Diese erklärt sich z. T. daraus, dass in den vorliegenden Studien nur z. T. Serumspiegel bestimmt wurden und in etlichen Untersuchungen lediglich über den Konsum von Tomaten oder Tomatenprodukten auf die Einnahme von Lykopin rückgeschlos-sen wurde [13]. Eine kürzlich publizierte große Fall-Kontroll-Studie, in der Teilnehmer der PCPT-Studie ("prostate cancer prevention trial") untersucht wurden, ergab keinen Hinweis auf einen Zusammenhang zwischen dem Lykopinspiegel und dem Nachweis eines Prostatakarzinoms [14].…”