|
Last Updated: Apr 30, 2008 - 8:37:53 AM |
WEDNESDAY April 30, 2008 (foodconsumer.org) -- Eating tomato products may help protect the skin from being damaged by harmful UV rays, according to a new study presented at the British Society for Investigative Dermatology.
The study showed 10 volunteers given five tablespoons of tomato paste daily for three months improved their skin' ability to protect against UV rays.
UV rays promote synthesis of vitamin D, which is essential in protecting against a series of diseases including cancer. But excessive exposure to it can cause skin aging and potentially other damage leading to skin cancer.
Researchers suggested benefit came from lycopene in tomatoes. The antioxidant found at high concentration in cooked tomatoes has already been associated with reduced risk of prostate cancer.
In the study, the researchers at the universities of Manchester and Newcastle gave 10 volunteers about 55 grams of standard tomato paste and 10 grams of olive oil daily. Another 10 people received just olive oil.
After three months, skin samples from the group on the tomato paste showed tomato paste provided the group a 33 percent protection against sunburn, an effect equally provided by a very low factor sun cream.
The researchers found the skin from the tomato group had much higher levels of procollagen, the molecule that gives the skin structure.
"These increasing levels suggest potential reversal of the skin ageing process," Lesley Rhodes, a dermatologist at the University of Manchester was quoted by BBC as saying.
© 2004-2008 by foodconsumer.org unless otherwise specified
Top of Page
