Tomato Consumption May Protect against Skin Cancer

Tomato Consumption May Protect against Skin Cancer

Jul 20, 2017 by Enrico de Lazaro

Daily tomato consumption appeared to cut the development of skin cancer tumors by half in the mouse 

study. Image credit: Hans Benn.

In a research article published in the journal Scientific Reports, Ohio State University scientists report that male mice fed a diet of 10% tomato powder daily for 35 weeks, then exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light, experienced, on average, a 50% decrease in skin cancer tumors compared to mice that ate no dehydrated tomato.

Unprotected exposure to the Sun is a major risk factor in the development of skin cancer.

Skin cancers, specifically keratinocyte carcinomas (often, but less accurately referred to as non-melanoma skin cancers), are the most common of all cancers, with more new cases (5.4 million in 2012) each year than breast, prostate, lung and colon cancers combined.

Despite a low mortality rate, these cancers are costly, disfiguring, and their rates are increasing.

“Alternative methods for systemic protection, possibly through nutritional interventions to modulate risk for skin-related diseases, could provide a significant benefit,” said study lead author Dr. Jessica Cooperstone, a researcher in the Department of Food Science and Technology at Ohio State University.

“Foods are not drugs, but they can possibly, over the lifetime of consumption, alter the development of certain diseases.”

The objective of the new study was to determine whether dietary consumption of tomatoes (either as a tangerine or red variety), as compared to a tomato-free diet, could differentially reduce the UV-induced tumor promotion and progression after chronic UV exposure in the skin of male and female mice.

The researchers hypothesized that “tomato consumption would decrease tumor number in animals consuming tomatoes, and that this biological effect would be the result of altered skin and plasma metabolomes.”

“Previous human clinical trials suggest that eating tomato paste over time can dampen sunburns, perhaps thanks to carotenoids from the plants that are deposited in the skin of humans after eating, and may be able to protect against UV light damage,” Dr. Cooperstone said.

“Lycopene, the primary carotenoid in tomatoes, has been shown to be the most effective antioxidant of these pigments.”

“However, when comparing lycopene administered from a whole food (tomato) or a synthesized supplement, tomatoes appear more effective in preventing redness after UV exposure, suggesting other compounds in tomatoes may also be at play.”

In the study, 180 mice were fed either a diet containing 10% tangerine or red tomato powder for 35 weeks.

“From weeks 11–20, 120 mice were exposed to UV-B light, and tumors were tracked weekly,” the researchers said.

“Control mice were fed the same diets but not exposed to UV.”

“Tumor number was significantly lower in male mice consuming red tomato diets (1.73 tumors) or pooled tomato diets (2.03 tumors) compared to controls (4.04 tumors).”

“Carotenoid levels in plasma and skin were quantitated, with total lycopene higher in skin of tangerine fed animals despite a lower dose,” they said.

There were no significant differences in tumor number for the female mice in the study.

“Previous research has shown that male mice develop tumors earlier after UV exposure and that their tumors are more numerous, larger and more aggressive,” said senior author Professor Tatiana Oberyszyn, the Comprehensive Cancer Center at Ohio State University.

“This study showed us that we do need to consider sex when exploring different preventive strategies.”

“Tomato consumption can modulate risk for keratinocyte carcinomas,” the researchers concluded.

“However, the role of the newly identified specific phytochemicals possibly responsible for this action requires further investigation.”

http://www.sci-news.com/medicine/tomato-consumption-skin-cancer-05057.html

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