Reduction of exercise-induced asthma oxidative stress by lycopene, a natural antioxidant.
BACKGROUND
Lycopene has previously been shown to have high antioxidative activity. In view of the controversy regarding the beneficial effect of antioxidants on asthma, the acute effects of lycopene (LYC-O-MATO) on airway hyperreactivity were assessed in patients with exercise-induced asthma (EIA).


METHODS
Twenty patients with EIA participated in our study to verify the antioxidative effects. The test was based on the following sequence: measurement of baseline pulmonary function, 7-min exercise session on a motorized treadmill, 8-min rest and again measurement of pulmonary function, 1-week, oral, randomly administered, double-blind supplementation of placebo or 30 mg/day of lycopene (LYC-O-MATO), measurement of pulmonary function at rest, 7-min exercise session, and 8-min rest and again measurement of pulmonary function. A 4-week washout interval was allowed between each protocol.


RESULTS
All patients given placebo showed significant postexercise reduction of more than 15% in their forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1). After receiving a daily dose of 30 mg of lycopene for 1 week, 11 (55%) patients were significantly protected against EIA. Serum analyses of the patients by high-pressure liquid chromatography detected in the lycopene-supplemented patients an elevated level of lycopene compared to the placebo group, with no change in retinol, tocopherols, or in the other carotenoids.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicate that a daily dose of lycopene exerts a protective effect against EIA in some patients, most probably through an in vivo antioxidative effect.
Neuman
I
I
Department of Allergy, Hasharon Hospital, Golda Medical Center, Petach Tivka and Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Israel.
Nahum
H
H
Ben-Amotz
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001250:Asthma, Exercise-Induced / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D000077276:Lycopene; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000975:Antioxidants; D014810:Vitamin E; D002338:Carotenoids; C003140:phytofluene; C100185:(all-E) phytoene; D000077276:Lycopene