Lycopene's anti prostate cancer properties

Main Category: Cancer / Oncology
Article Date: 25 Jul 2004 - 1:00 PDT

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Prostate cancer is the commonest cancer effecting men. Benefits of Lycophene- an anti-oxidant found in tomato, Guava, apricots, watermelon, papaya and pink grapefruit (most lycopene in processed tomato products including paste, sauces and juice) have been known for sometime in preventing the aging process and improve skin health in both women and men.

It is now being looked at for preventing and treating cancers such as prostate cancer.

In a recent study Dr.Kumar, Ph.D., R.D., Director of Nutrition at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida, USA, found that lycopene can reduce cell growth of prostate cancer and results can be seen within six week.

A patient called Lofgren was diagnosed with prostate cancer last year. He had surgery to remove his prostate, but not before helping scientists study lycopene's effect on cancer cells.

While waiting six weeks before surgery, Lofgren took lycopene pills and researchers are now comparing his cancer cells before and after taking the lycopene pills.

While results from this study are pending, another study showed men who ate tomato sauce at least twice a week were 20 percent less likely to develop prostate cancer. "Large population based studies have shown that what they are eating is what is lowering their risk of these cancers and not that they are taking supplements," he says Dr.Kumar.