CONSUMING TOMATO SAUCE PASTA PRIOR TO PROSTATE CANCER SURGERY SHOWS PROMISING RESULTS.

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Researchers from the Department of Human Nutrition, University of Illinois at Chicago conducted a small intervention trial in which patients diagnosed with prostate cancer consumed tomato sauce pasta daily for three weeks before their scheduled prostatectomy. Biomarkers of tomato intake, prostate cancer progression and oxidative DNA damage were followed in blood and the available prostate tissue.

The researchers found that during this short period, the blood lycopene (the primary carotenoid in tomatoes responsible for for their red colour) doubled and the prostate lycopene concentration tripled. Oxidative DNA damage in leukocytes and prostate tissues was significantly diminished, which they suggest may be due to the antioxidant properties of lycopene. They reported as quite surprising the finding of "the decrease in blood prostate-specific antigen, which was explained by the increase in apoptotic death of prostate cells, especially in carcinoma regions."

...other phytochemicals in tomato may act in synergy with lycopene to potentiate protective effects and to help in the maintenance of prostate health.

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...from, Healing Bridge, The Centre for Integrated Healing. (Spring 2006).