A high consumption of tomato and lycopene is associated with a lower risk of cancer mortality: results from a multi-ethnic cohort.

OBJECTIVE

We investigated the association between the consumption of tomato and lycopene and cancer mortality among US adults.

DESIGN

Prospective.

SETTING

The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999-2010).

PARTICIPANTS

Participants with estimated dietary data on tomato and lycopene consumption were included. Outcome data up until 31 December 2011 were also ascertained. Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to relate baseline tomato and lycopene consumption with cancer mortality. We conducted a competing-risk survival analysis to account for deaths from other causes.

RESULTS

Adjusted Cox models showed that tomato and lycopene intake were inversely related (hazard ratio (95 % CI)) to cancer mortality: 0·86 (0·81, 0·92) and 0·79 (0·74, 0·82), respectively. In the adjusted competing-risk models, the sub-hazard ratios (95 % CI) were 0·89 (0·83, 0·94) and 0·82 (0·78, 0·86) for cancer mortality for tomato and lycopene intake, respectively. No significant interaction was found for the association between tomato and lycopene consumption and cancer mortality while comparing older (aged >50 years) v. younger adults (Pinteraction > 0·173 for all) and obese v. non-obese (Pinteraction > 0·352 for all).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results demonstrate the potential beneficial effects of a high dietary intake of tomato and lycopene on cancer death. Further prospective studies are needed to explore the association.