Carotenoids in human buccal mucosa cells after 4 wk of supplementation with tomato juice or lycopene supplements.
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.
Paetau
I
I
US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center, Phytonutrients Laboratory, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA.
Rao
D
D
Wiley
E R
ER
Brown
E D
ED
Clevidence
B A
BA
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
D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D002214:Capsules; D010936:Plant Extracts; C018620:oleoresins; D019207:beta Carotene; D002338:Carotenoids; C003140:phytofluene; D000077276:Lycopene