Lycopene from Tomatoes and Photoprotection

Lycopene, a carotenoid in tomatoes and other red fruits, is a potent antioxidant that has gained a reputation as a possible chemopreventive agent against prostate cancer. With dietary supplementation, increased amounts of lycopene are found in the skin, raising the possibility that lycopene might have potential as a cutaneous photoprotectant.

To examine this issue, investigators performed a randomized, controlled trial in nine healthy adult women with Fitzpatrick skin types I or II who were instructed to add 55 grams of tomato paste (approximately 16 mg of lycopene), mixed with olive oil on bread, to their daily diet. Before and at the end of 12 weeks of supplementation, the investigators measured the ultraviolet (UV) light–induced erythemal…