Lycopene is a bright red phytochemical, or plant chemical, that is found in tomatoes. Lycopene also exists naturally in the body such as in the lungs, liver and prostate gland. Lycopene is generally beneficial to health but supplementation could be problematic in the treatment of lung cancer.
Carcinogenesis
High doses of lycopene may accelerate the proliferation of different types of cancer, according to the findings of a study published in April 2010 in the "FASEB Journal," which is the journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology. The researchers found that there may be a shift in the way the carotene derived from lycopene is processed by the body among lung cancer patients. Carotene is converted to vitamin A by the liver. This metabolism of carotene may lead to carcinogenesis, or the formation of cancer, the researchers concluded.
Smokers
Those who smoke are particularly cautioned against using lycopene as preventative against lung cancer, according an article published in 2009 in the "American Journal of Epidemiology." Studies have found that the duration of lycopene supplementation, and not the amount taken over that same period, determined whether smokers were at a greater risk for lung cancer.
Considerations
Conflicted evidence has emerged regarding the association between lycopene and lung cancer. One study explained in the 2009 "American Journal of Epidemiology" article found that lycopene supplementation did not lead to an increased risk of getting lung cancer. The researchers concluded that lycopene dosage should be taken into consideration. Antioxidants protect the cells of the body from damage and death. However, too many antioxidants may lead to the protection of cells that would better serve overall health by being replaced.
Balance
Eating an overall healthy diet with a variety of nutrient sources may be the best route to good health. This way, reaching high-dose levels of substances like lycopene is generally avoided. A well-rounded consumption of vegetables helps protect against lung cancer. For example, a study of women published in 2010 in "Cancer Causes & Control" showed that vegetable consumption had strong protective effects against lung cancer.
References
- "The FASEB Journal": Intracellular accumulation and metabolism of beta-carotene and lycopene in normal and non-small cell lung cancer cells; Raju Marisiddaiah, et al.; April 2010
- "American Journal of Epidemiology"; Long-term Use of b-Carotene, Retinol, Lycopene, and Lutein Supplements and Lung Cancer Risk: Results From the VITamins And Lifestyle (VITAL) Study; Jessie A. Satia, et al.; 2009
- "Cancer Causes & Control"; Risk Factors for Lung Cancer: A Case--Control Study in Hong Kong Women; Yuk-Lan Chiu, et al.; 2010
