Possible Interaction: Carotenoids and Lycopene

“After 26 d of … of the drink, plasma carotenoid levels increased …: concentrations of lycopene were 1·7-fold higher (P<0·0001); of phytofluene were 1·6-fold higher (P<0·0001); … phytoene were doubled (P<0·0005); of β-carotene were 1·3-fold higher (P<0·05).”

“It is also clear that the form of lycopene used (purified versus food sources), dose of lycopene and concomitant use with other carotenoids and antioxidants, duration of exposure, specific target populations, and stage of disease appear to play a major role in determining agonistic or antagonistic effects.”

“After an intervention period of 8±2 months, lycopene concentration increased from 67.5±30 to 121.8±102 μg/l (P=0.025).Conclusion Carotenoid concentrations are dramatically decreased in CP, especially lycopene in CP patients with vascular disease.”

“Significant reductions in serum carotenoids (P < 0.05 vs. control) were demonstrated for some alleles: beta-carotene and lycopene in E2 and E4; alpha-carotene in E3; cryptoxanthin in E3 and E4; zeaxanthin in E4; lycopene in E2 and E4; and lutein in E2 carriers.”

“The inverse associations of lycopene and the sum of carotenoids with the risk of advanced disease may involve a protective effect, an association of dietary choice with delayed detection of prostate cancer, reverse causality, or other factors.”

“The results for lycopene were, however, discordant from those of the other carotenoids.”

“Thus, cellular carotenoids inhibit proliferation, and for lycopene at least, this may involve cell differentiation.”

“At the end of the experiment, treatment of the animals with LUT or LYC resulted in an increase in the respective liver carotenoid concentrations (P < 0.05).”

“After administration of the carotenoid association, beta-carotene distribution in the four organs was strongly inhibited by lycopene.”

“ Carotenoid , tocopherol, flavonoid and ascorbate biosynthesis were differentially affected by NO, resulting in overaccumulation of ascorbate (25%) and flavonoids (60%) and impaired lycopene production.”