01.01.05
Scientists at DSM Nutritional Products, Inc. have made progress in understanding how lycopene may reduce the risk of prostate cancer. In a new study published in The FASEB Journal, DSM scientists found that pure lycopene significantly reduced the effect of the major male hormone, androgen, in healthy prostate tissue. (Androgens are considered to play a key role in the development of prostate cancer in men over lifetime.) Moreover, lycopene reduced inflammation signs in normal prostate tissue. Chronic prostatitis is thought to be linked to increased prostate cancer risk. Lycopene also reduced expression of the growth factor IGF-I, which is regarded as a risk factor for prostate cancer. These lycopene effects were identified by employing “Nutrigenomics” technology. The scientists supplemented healthy young male rats with lycopene for up to eight weeks. During this time, lycopene accumulated in the prostate tissue. Lycopene did not influence normal prostate development. These results show that the pure lycopene molecule targets key mechanisms driving prostate cancer development.