Agarwal S, Rao A V
Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Ont.
CMAJ. 2000 Sep 19;163(6):739-44.
Lycopene is a carotenoid that is present in tomatoes, processed tomato products and other fruits. It is one of the most potent antioxidants among dietary carotenoids. Dietary intake of tomatoes and tomato products containing lycopene has been shown to be associated with a decreased risk of chronic diseases, such as cancer and cardiovascular disease. Serum and tissue lycopene levels have been found to be inversely related to the incidence of several types of cancer, including breast cancer and prostate cancer. Although the antioxidant properties of lycopene are thought to be primarily responsible for its beneficial effects, evidence is accumulating to suggest that other mechanisms may also be involved. In this article we outline the possible mechanisms of action of lycopene and review the current understanding of its role in human health and disease prevention.
番茄红素是一种存在于番茄、加工番茄制品及其他水果中的类胡萝卜素。它是膳食类胡萝卜素中最强效的抗氧化剂之一。已表明,摄入含有番茄红素的番茄及番茄制品与降低患慢性疾病(如癌症和心血管疾病)的风险有关。血清和组织中的番茄红素水平已被发现与包括乳腺癌和前列腺癌在内的几种癌症的发病率呈负相关。尽管人们认为番茄红素的抗氧化特性是其产生有益作用的主要原因,但越来越多的证据表明,其他机制可能也起作用。在本文中,我们概述了番茄红素可能的作用机制,并综述了目前对其在人类健康和疾病预防中作用的认识。