Tangerine tomatoes increase total and tetra-cis-lycopene isomer concentrations more than red tomatoes in healthy adult humans.
Lycopene, or the foods that contain it, may prevent prostate cancer. Studies suggest that some cis-lycopene isomers are more bioavailable than the trans-lycopene isomer. We hypothesized that tangerine tomatoes, which predominantly contain the tetra-cis isomer, should be a good source of bioavailable lycopene. We fed lunches containing 300 g tangerine or red tomato sauce per day to 21 healthy adults in a double-blind crossover design. We collected blood at baseline and after each treatment and washout period. We measured tetra-cis, other cis, and trans lycopene, as well as other carotenoids, by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Both tomato sauces increased lycopene concentrations in blood, but the tangerine tomato sauce caused a greater increase of total and tetra-cis-lycopene. The cis isomer(s) may also have facilitated absorption of the trans-lycopene isomer. Indices of oxidative damage decreased as serum lycopene concentrations increased. Our results suggest that total lycopene concentrations can be increased by substituting tetra-cis-lycopene-rich tangerine tomatoes for common red tomatoes in the diet.
Burri
Betty Jane Burri
BJ
Western Human Nutrition Research Center, USDA, ARS, PWA, Davis, California, USA. betty.burri@ars.usda.gov
Chapman
Mary H
MH
Neidlinger
Terry R
TR
Seo
Jung S
JS
Ishida
Betty K
BK
D000328:Adult; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004032:Diet; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007536:Isomerism; D000077276:Lycopene; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D013045:Species Specificity; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000097:blood
D019207:beta Carotene; D002338:Carotenoids; C041635:alpha-carotene; D000077276:Lycopene