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Last Updated: Oct 29, 2008 - 11:04:25 AM |
WEDNESDAY FEB 20, 2008 (Foodconsumer.org) -- Lycopene from tomatoes may suppress the activity of a hormone that would otherwise increase the risk of colorectal cancer, according to a Dutch study published in the Nov. 2007 issue of the American journal of Clinical Nutrition.
The randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded crossover study of 71 subjects showed lycopene supplements may increase production of proteins that bind to insulin-like growth factors or IGF reducing the cancer risk.
Earlier studies have linked lycopene to reduced risk of prostate cancer. And the current study provides an explanation as to why this compound could reduce the cancer risk.
Alina Vrieling of the Netherlands Cancer Institute in Amsterdam, lead author of the study said increased levels of IGF-binding protein(BP)-1 and IGFBP-2 would decrease IGF-I bio-availability and cut risk of a number of cancers including prostate, colorectal and potentially breast cancers.
In the study, the researchers gave a tomato lycopene supplements at a dose of 30 mg per day or a placebo to 40 men and 31 women with a family history of colorectal cancer and or a personal history of colorectal adenoma for a period of eight weeks.
Blood samples were analyzed for a range of protein compounds including IGF-I, IGF-II, IGFBP-1, IGFBP-2, and IGFBP-3.
The study showed lycopene supplementation increased IGFBP-1 by 21.7% in women, IGFBP-2 by 8.2% in men and 7.8% in women as compared to the control group.
However, no significant change was observed in total IGF-I, IGF-II and IGFBP-3.
"Serum concentrations of IGF-I and -II which are associated with increased prostate, pre-menopausal breast, and colorectal cancer risk," said the researchers, quoted by nutraingredients.com.
The researchers hoped a large study could lead to a more solid conclusion.
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