title: Dietary intake of lycopene by the Belgian adult population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Lycopene is a potent antioxidant, and it has been suggested that intake of tomatoes and tomato products containing lycopene is associated with a decreased risk of various chronic diseases. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the distribution of dietary lycopene intake in the Belgian population and to determine the most important contributors to lycopene intake.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  National food consumption data from the Belgian Food Consumption Survey (BFCS) 2004 were used for the intake assessment. Determination of the lycopene content in foods was performed with HPLC-UV. Individual food consumption data were multiplied by the actual mean concentrations of lycopene per food.
  
  
  METHODS
  Individuals (n 3083) aged 15 years and older participated in the study and provided two 24 h recalls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean lycopene intake among Belgian adults was 4·1 (sd 2·3) mg/d or 0·059 (sd 0·033) mg/kg body weight per d. Lycopene intake among men (4·6 (sd 2·6) mg/d) was higher than among women (3·6 (sd 2·1) mg/d), and was higher in the younger compared with the older age groups. Cis-lycopene intake represented about one-third of the total lycopene intake. Tomatoes and tomato products (43%) and sauces and ready-to-eat meals containing tomato sauces (41%) were the main contributors to lycopene intake in Belgium.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The lycopene intake of the Belgian adult population was comparable to intakes reported in neighbouring countries and was below the acceptable daily intake.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Public Health and Surveillance, Scientific Institute of Public Health, J. Wytsmanstraat 14, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Stefanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vandevijvere
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Food, Medicines and Consumer Safety, Scientific Institute of Public Health, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Tatiana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cucu
authors.affiliation: 3 Federal Public Service of Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vinkx
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Public Health and Surveillance, Scientific Institute of Public Health, J. Wytsmanstraat 14, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Huvaere
authors.affiliation: 4 Department of Public Health, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Inge
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Huybrechts
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Public Health and Surveillance, Scientific Institute of Public Health, J. Wytsmanstraat 14, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Joris
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Van Loco
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001530:Belgium; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D015930:Diet Records; D004034:Diet Surveys; D057140:Fast Foods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077276:Lycopene; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D008875:Middle Aged; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D002338:Carotenoids; D000077276:Lycopene