Lycopene is often found in tomatoes. Lycopene content in tomato depends on tomato's kind, maturity and the environment where it grows. Generally, there are 3-5 mg lycopene at every100 gram of raw tomatoes.
Besides tomato, lycopene is often found in red guava, red wine, papaya, carrots, red sweet potatoes, apples, apricot, and watermelon. tomatoes-made products like juice, soy sauce, paste, sauce, and soup are also good lycopene sources.
The level of lycopene in processed foods are higher than the fresh ones, so consuming processed tomato-made foods can increase the level of lycopene in blood. It is because when lycopene-riched food is proccessed, it will break the cell wall and weaken the binding of lycopene with network matrix. Therefore lycopene will become small parts and will be easier to be absorbed.
Recommended Dosage and Side Effects
Until now there is no official data stated for recommended level consumed in a day. However, research carried out by Agarwal and Rao (1998) reported that consuming 40mg lycopene in a day can reduce LDL oxidation significantly and lower cancer risk at about 50%. Other report shows that consuming tomato and its processed kinds at least 10 times in a week (equal with 6,5 mg of lycopene a day) can lower cancer risk. According to some researchs, there is no side effects related with lycopene consumption from fruits and vegetables, whereas there is not yet available report about the side effects of consuming lycopene supplement.
However, it is important to note that because of high level of lycopene in processed food, the consumers must examine the high level of salt in those processed food.
Conclusion
Many researches show that lycopene is categorized as carotenoids and it has more effective antioxidant compared with other compounds such as B-caroten or a-tokoferol. Because of its antioxidant characteritics, lycopene become an agent that can eliminate free radicals and lessen oxidative damage in lipid, protein and DNA. Lycopene can become an important compound that enable to prevent cronic diseases especially prostate cancer, cardiovascular, and eyes degenerative diseases.
Lycopene can be found at fruits and vegetables around us, so because of its high availability, it can become the best food source to prevent chronic and degenarative diseases.
Bibliography:
1. Agarwal S, Rao AV. Tomato lycopene and its role in human health and chronic diseases. Canadian Medical Association Journal 2000; 163(6): 739-44.
2. Sudardjat SS, Gunawan I. Likopen (Lycopene).Majalah Gizi Medik Indonesia Vol 2 No 5 April
2003; 7-8.
3. Minorsky, PV. Lycopene and the prevention of prostate cancer : the love apple lives up to its name. Plant Physiology November 2002 Vol 130; 1077-1078
4. Clinton SK. Lycopene: chemistry, biology and implications for human health and disease. Nutrition Review, 1998;56:35-51
5. Park C, MD. Lycopene joins eye-healthy carotenoid ranks (2003). www.prohealthnetwork.com accessed pada 29 Oktober 2003
6. Mercola J, Dr. Lycopene may help prevent atherosclerosis (2000). www.mercola.com accessed at 29 Oktober 2003
7. Anonim (2003). Lycopene. American Cancer Society 2003. www.cancer.org, accessed at 29 Oktober 2003.
8. Umbas R, PhD. Diet dan kanker prostat (2002). www.kompas.com, accessed at 29 Oktober 2003.
9. Anonim. Lycopene. www.diet-and-health.com accessed at 29 Oktober 2003.
10. Anonim. Lycopene overview. www.tishcon.org accessed at 29 Oktober 2003.
Besides tomato, lycopene is often found in red guava, red wine, papaya, carrots, red sweet potatoes, apples, apricot, and watermelon. tomatoes-made products like juice, soy sauce, paste, sauce, and soup are also good lycopene sources.
The level of lycopene in processed foods are higher than the fresh ones, so consuming processed tomato-made foods can increase the level of lycopene in blood. It is because when lycopene-riched food is proccessed, it will break the cell wall and weaken the binding of lycopene with network matrix. Therefore lycopene will become small parts and will be easier to be absorbed.
Recommended Dosage and Side Effects
Until now there is no official data stated for recommended level consumed in a day. However, research carried out by Agarwal and Rao (1998) reported that consuming 40mg lycopene in a day can reduce LDL oxidation significantly and lower cancer risk at about 50%. Other report shows that consuming tomato and its processed kinds at least 10 times in a week (equal with 6,5 mg of lycopene a day) can lower cancer risk. According to some researchs, there is no side effects related with lycopene consumption from fruits and vegetables, whereas there is not yet available report about the side effects of consuming lycopene supplement.
However, it is important to note that because of high level of lycopene in processed food, the consumers must examine the high level of salt in those processed food.
Conclusion
Many researches show that lycopene is categorized as carotenoids and it has more effective antioxidant compared with other compounds such as B-caroten or a-tokoferol. Because of its antioxidant characteritics, lycopene become an agent that can eliminate free radicals and lessen oxidative damage in lipid, protein and DNA. Lycopene can become an important compound that enable to prevent cronic diseases especially prostate cancer, cardiovascular, and eyes degenerative diseases.
Lycopene can be found at fruits and vegetables around us, so because of its high availability, it can become the best food source to prevent chronic and degenarative diseases.
Bibliography:
1. Agarwal S, Rao AV. Tomato lycopene and its role in human health and chronic diseases. Canadian Medical Association Journal 2000; 163(6): 739-44.
2. Sudardjat SS, Gunawan I. Likopen (Lycopene).Majalah Gizi Medik Indonesia Vol 2 No 5 April
2003; 7-8.
3. Minorsky, PV. Lycopene and the prevention of prostate cancer : the love apple lives up to its name. Plant Physiology November 2002 Vol 130; 1077-1078
4. Clinton SK. Lycopene: chemistry, biology and implications for human health and disease. Nutrition Review, 1998;56:35-51
5. Park C, MD. Lycopene joins eye-healthy carotenoid ranks (2003). www.prohealthnetwork.com accessed pada 29 Oktober 2003
6. Mercola J, Dr. Lycopene may help prevent atherosclerosis (2000). www.mercola.com accessed at 29 Oktober 2003
7. Anonim (2003). Lycopene. American Cancer Society 2003. www.cancer.org, accessed at 29 Oktober 2003.
8. Umbas R, PhD. Diet dan kanker prostat (2002). www.kompas.com, accessed at 29 Oktober 2003.
9. Anonim. Lycopene. www.diet-and-health.com accessed at 29 Oktober 2003.
10. Anonim. Lycopene overview. www.tishcon.org accessed at 29 Oktober 2003.
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