title: Carotenoids in human buccal mucosa cells after 4 wk of supplementation with tomato juice or lycopene supplements.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lycopene has been identified as a phytochemical with potentially protective health benefits.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Our objective was to monitor lycopene changes in buccal mucosa cells (BMCs) in response to 3 vehicles for oral delivery of lycopene.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen healthy subjects ingested lycopene-rich tomato juice, tomato oleoresin, lycopene beadlets (each containing 70-75 mg lycopene) and a placebo for 4 wk each in a randomized crossover design while consuming self-selected diets. A 6-wk washout period separated the treatment periods. BMCs were collected at baseline and after 4 wk of supplementation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lycopene in BMCs increased significantly ( approximately 2-fold) after 4 wk of ingestion of oleoresin and of beadlets to 4.95 (P < 0.001) and 3.75 microg/g protein (P = 0.053), respectively, but was not significantly affected by tomato juice treatment. The placebo treatment produced a significant decrease in BMC lycopene concentrations (P = 0.018). We observed significant treatment differences between oleoresin and tomato juice, oleoresin and placebo, and beadlets and placebo. BMC concentrations of phytofluene and beta-carotene, which were present in small amounts in the lycopene-containing treatments, increased significantly with ingestion of these products. Strong correlations were found between plasma and BMC concentrations of lutein, beta-cryptoxanthin, alpha-carotene, and beta-carotene. In contrast, correlations between lycopene concentrations in plasma and in BMCs were weak and not significant for any treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The cellular content of lycopene and other tomato-related carotenoids with proposed beneficial health effects can be increased through prolonged supplementation.
authors.affiliation: US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center, Phytonutrients Laboratory, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Paetau
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Wiley
authors.forename: E D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Clevidence
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D001628:Beverages; D001682:Biological Availability; D002214:Capsules; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077276:Lycopene; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008863:Microspheres; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D010936:Plant Extracts; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D002214:Capsules; D010936:Plant Extracts; C018620:oleoresins; D019207:beta Carotene; D002338:Carotenoids; C003140:phytofluene; D000077276:Lycopene