title: Daily intake of a formulated tomato drink affects carotenoid plasma and lymphocyte concentrations and improves cellular antioxidant protection.
abstract: The salutary characteristics of the tomato are normally related to its content of carotenoids, especially lycopene, and other antioxidants. Our purpose was to verify whether the daily intake of a beverage prototype called Lyc-o-Mato((R)) containing a natural tomato extract (Lyc-o-Mato((R)) oleoresin 6 %) was able to modify plasma and lymphocyte carotenoid concentrations, particularly those of lycopene, phytoene, phytofluene and beta-carotene, and to evaluate whether this intake was sufficient to improve protection against DNA damage in lymphocytes. In a double-blind, cross-over study, twenty-six healthy subjects consumed 250 ml of the drink daily, providing about 6 mg lycopene, 4 mg phytoene, 3 mg phytofluene, 1 mg beta-carotene and 1.8 mg alpha-tocopherol, or a placebo drink. Treatments were separated by a wash-out period. Plasma and lymphocyte carotenoid and alpha-tocopherol concentrations were determined by HPLC, and DNA damage by the comet assay. After 26 d of consumption of the drink, plasma carotenoid levels increased significantly: concentrations of lycopene were 1.7-fold higher (P<0.0001); of phytofluene were 1.6-fold higher (P<0.0001); of phytoene were doubled (P<0.0005); of beta-carotene were 1.3-fold higher (P<0.05). Lymphocyte carotenoid concentrations also increased significantly: that of lycopene doubled (P<0.001); that of phytofluene was 1.8-fold higher (P<0.005); that of phytoene was 2.6-fold higher (P<0.005); that of beta-carotene was 1.5-fold higher (P<0.01). In contrast, the alpha-tocopherol concentration remained nearly constant. The intake of the tomato drink significantly reduced (by about 42 %) DNA damage (P<0.0001) in lymphocytes subjected to oxidative stress. In conclusion, the present study supports the fact that a low intake of carotenoids from tomato products improves cell antioxidant protection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Technology, Division of Human Nutrition, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Marisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Porrini
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Riso
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brusamolino
authors.forename: Cristiana
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Berti
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guarnieri
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Visioli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D001628:Beverages / Q000032:analysis; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000097:blood*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004249:DNA Damage; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005526:Food, Formulated; D006801:Humans; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D012044:Regression Analysis; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D002338:Carotenoids; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol