Lycopene
Lycopene is a member of the carotenoid family and provides the rich red pigments found in tomatoes, watermelon, pink grapefruit, pink guava and papaya. Lycopene is a lipophilic molecule that contains 11 conjugated double bonds. These conjugated double bonds are what enables lycopene to be a powerful antioxidant. Despite the fact that lycopene is an isomer of beta-carotene, lycopene has no provitamin A activity because its acyclic, or linear molecular shape. Tomatoes and tomato-based foods are the primary dietary sources of lycopene. Fresh tomatoes contain lycopene almost exclusively in the trans conformation, although a variety of cis isomers are possible. When exposed to light and heat, such as during food processing, trans isomers will convert to cis as it is the more stable form of lycopene. Pure Encapsulations Lycopene is naturally extracted by a proprietary method, which preserves the trans conformation of the molecule.
Countless studies have examined the health promoting potential of lycopene. Research compiled in a multi-center study involving ten European countries reported that lycopene's antioxidant activity supported cardiovascular health. Fifty-seven epidemiological studies indicate that lycopene supports digestive, lung, stomach, cervical and breast cell health. Furthermore, a randomized, prospective clinical trial involving 30 male subjects indicated that supplementation with lycopene promoted healthy prostate function.
Pure Encapsulations Lycopene, in 5 or 10 mg softgels, provides a natural tomato extract rich in lycopene, various carotenoids, vitamin E, and other important phytochemicals.
References:
1. Singh M, Krishanappa R, Bagewadi A, Keluskar V. Efficacy of oral lycopene in the treatment of oral leukoplakia. Oral Oncol 2004 Jul;40(6):591-6.
2. Gupta SK, Trivedi D, Srivastava S, Joshi S, Halder N, Verma SD. Lycopene attenuates oxidative stress induced experimental cataract development: an in vitro and in vivo study. Nutrition 2003 Sep;19(9):794-9.
3. Rissanen TH, Voutilainen S, Nyyssonen K, Salonen R, Kaplan GA, Salonen JT. Serum lycopene concentrations and carotid atherosclerosis: the Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study. Am J Clin Nutr 2003 Jan;77(1):133-8.
4. Livny O, Kaplan I, Reifen R, Polak-Charcon S, Madar Z, Schwartz B. Oral cancer cells differ from normal oral epithelial cells in tissue like organization and in response to lycopene treatment: an organotypic cell culture study. Nutr Cancer 2003;47(2):195-209.
5. Kucuk O, Sarkar FH, Djuric Z, Sakr W, Pollak MN, Khachik F, Banerjee M, Bertram JS, Wood DP Jr. Effects of lycopene supplementation in patients with localized prostate cancer. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2002 Nov;227(10):881-5.
6. Vogt TM, Mayne ST, Graubard BI, Swanson CA, Sowell AL, Schoenberg JB, Swanson GM, Greenberg RS, Hoover RN, Hayes RB, Ziegler RG. Serum lycopene, other serum carotenoids, and risk of prostate cancer in US Blacks and Whites. Am J Epidemiol 2002 Jun 1;155(11):1023-32.
7. Levy J, Bosin E, Feldman B, Giat Y, Miinster A, Danilenko M, Sharoni Y. Lycopene is a more potent inhibitor of human cancer cell proliferation than either alpha-carotene or beta-carotene. Nutr Cancer 1995;24(3):257-66.
8. Kohlmeier L et al. Lycopene and myocardial infarction risk in the EURAMIC Study. Am J Epidemiol 1997 Oct 15;146(8):618-26.
9. Kucuk O et al. Phase II randomized clinical trial of lycopene supplementation before radical prostatectomy. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2001 Aug;10(8):861-8.
10. Karas M et al. Lycopene interferes with cell cycle progression and insulin-like growth factor I signaling in mammary cancer cells. Nutr Cancer 2000;36(1):101-11.
11. Lu QY et al. Inverse associations between plasma lycopene and other carotenoids
and prostate cancer. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2001 Jul;10(7):749-56.
For educational purposes only. Consult your physician for any health problems.
*This is a statement of nutritional support. This statement has not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
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