You probably already know that lycopene is great for an enlarged prostate. And recent studies show its great for prostate cancer.
In one study, researchers discovered that eating tomato products containing a minimum of 25 mg lycopene per day (lycopene is the red pigment in tomatoes) or soy products (30 gm daily) reduced the PSA in 34% of the participants. As you saw last month, the PSA test is a great way to determine inflammation, which fuels cancer. But lycopene is good for more than just lowering inflammation and fighting prostate problems.
Lycopene also is effective against colon cancer, especially if you have a family history of polyps. The new research has found that this nutrient inhibits cell proliferation (division) in human colon cancer cells. It also activated the protein that suppresses tumor growth. That protein is normally turned off in cancers.
Another study found that lycopene reduced serum vascular endothelial growth factor by 42%. Cancers use this protein to make new blood vessels to feed the tumor.
But that is not all. We know that colon cancer develops through the pathway phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt survival signaling pathway. This pathway determines the survival of cancer cells. An active pathway makes the cancer more likely to survive.
The researchers in this study found that lycopene inhibited cell proliferation in human colon cancer cells by suppressing the Akt pathway.
Tomatoes are rich in lycopene. When in season, I eat several a day. If you are short on tomatoes or they are not in season, there are many supplements on the market containing it. One of my favorites is Lyc-O-Mato, which is available online and at health food stores.
Ref: Mol Nutr Food Res., 2008 June;52(6); Nutr Cancer, 2008; 60(2).