title: The effect of tomato-derived lycopene on low carotenoids and enhanced systemic inflammation and oxidation in severe obesity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fat tissue mediates the production of inflammatory cytokines and oxidative products, which are key steps in the development of type 2 diabetes and atherosclerosis. Antioxidant-rich diets protect against chronic diseases. Antioxidants may interfere with pro-inflammatory signals.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of the potent tomato-derived antioxidant carotenoid, lycopene, on plasma antioxidants (carotenoids and vitamin E), inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha) and oxidation products (conjugated dienes).
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight obese patients (body mass index 37.5 +/- 2.5 kg/m2) were compared with a control group of eight lean, age and gender-matched subjects (BMI 21.6 +/- 0.6 kg/m2), before and after 4 weeks of lycopene supplementation (tomato-derived Lyc-O-Mato) (30 mg daily).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plasma carotenoids were significantly reduced in the obese compared to control subjects (0.54 +/- 0.06 vs. 0.87 +/- 0.08 microg/ml, P < 0.01). CRP levels were significantly higher (6.5 vs. 1.1 mg/L, P = 0.04) in obese vs. controls, as were IL-6 and conjugated dienes (3.6 and 7.9-fold, respectively). CRP, IL-6 and conjugated dienes correlated with BMI, while IL-6 and conjugated dienes correlated inversely with carotenoids (P < 0.05). Following lycopene treatment, a significant elevation of plasma carotenoids (1.79 vs. 0.54 microg/ml) and specifically lycopene (1.15 vs 0.23 microg/ml) (P < 0.001) occurred in the treatment vs. the placebo group, respectively. Markers of inflammation and oxidation products were not altered by lycopene.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Obese patients showed abnormally higher markers of inflammation and oxidation products and lower plasma carotenoids. The lack of reduction of pro-inflammatory markers could be attributed to the short period of the study and the small number of participants. More studies are needed on the protective qualities of natural antioxidant-rich diets against obesity-related co-morbidities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine D, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: Noa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Markovits
authors.forename: Ami
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ben Amotz
authors.forename: Yishai
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Levy
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000097:blood* / Q000494:pharmacology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D000077276:Lycopene; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D015415:Biomarkers; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014810:Vitamin E; D002338:Carotenoids; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D000077276:Lycopene