Tomato Extracts Fare
Poorly as Cancer Shield

REUTERS

WASHINGTON -- Supplements based on tomato extracts may not work to prevent prostate cancer the way the whole fruit does, at least in rats, according to new research.

The research, published in this week's issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, suggests that men seeking to benefit from the health-giving properties of tomatoes will have to eat tomato sauce, tomato paste or the whole fruit instead of popping a pill.

"Our findings strongly suggest that risks of poor dietary habits cannot be reversed simply by taking a pill," said Steven Clinton of Ohio State University, who helped lead the study. "We shouldn't expect easy solutions to complex problems. We must focus more on choosing a variety of healthy foods, exercising and watching our weight."

Many studies have found that men who eat tomato products have a lower risk of prostate cancer, and scientists have credited the lycopene -- the compound that makes tomatoes red. But other experts say whole foods contain a variety of compounds that work together for healthful benefits.

Lycopene is an antioxidant, which means it can help deflect chemicals that damage cells, leading to the changes that underlie cancer.

Teams at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign and Ohio State University in Columbus did carefully controlled studies on rats to see if lycopene supplements -- already on the market -- could provide the same benefits as cooked or raw tomatoes.

They treated 194 male rats with a chemical that induces prostate cancer and then gave some rats whole tomato powder, some pure lycopene and the rest a standard diet with no supplements. Rats fed the tomato powder diet were 26% less likely to die of prostate cancer than rats not given any supplements. The rats given lycopene as a supplement were only slightly more likely to survive than rats given no tomato products.

"Many men are consuming lycopene-containing supplements with the hope that they may prevent prostate cancer or enhance the treatment of their prostate cancer," the researchers wrote.

"Our study does not say that lycopene is useless," Dr. Clinton added. "Instead it suggests that if we want the health benefits of tomatoes, we should eat tomatoes or tomato products and not rely on lycopene supplements alone."

The researchers found that rats fed the fewest calories per day had a lower risk of prostate cancer, regardless of tomato or lycopene consumption.

Updated November 5, 2003

© 2003 Wayne Hollopeter, M.D. All Rights Reserved
This website hosted by Wild Web West. Contact: Webmaster