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Lyc-O-Mato, Natural Lycopene Complex |
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Lyc-O-Mato, Natural Lycopene Complex
by Lyle Hurd, editor
Heart disease, breast cancer, ovarian
cancer, skin cancer, endometrial
cancer and osteoporosis—what do
they have in common? They are all caused by
oxidative stress and they can all be prevented
by tomatoes. The tomato may very well be
one of nature most perfect foods, containing
phytonutrients that help prevent
oxidative damage, which serves to protect
against the leading health problems of
women.
Tomatoes, as well as natural tomato
extracts like Lyc-O-Mato? the subject of
well-publicized research, contain a variety of
health benefiting phytonutrients: lycopene
and beta carotene, as well as antioxidant
tocopherols (vitamin E), phytosterols and the
less well-known carotenoids, phytoene and
phytofluene. Studies have shown that these
natural substances decrease the proliferation
of human cancer cells and support cardiovascular
health. Recent data suggest that they
may even be important in maintaining bone
health.
Oxidative stress occurs when our cells are
bombarded with free radicals, by the sun and
other environmental factors. When free radicals
occur in excess, they damage the structure
and function of our cells. The resulting
oxidative stress leads to degenerative conditions
such as cancer and cardiovascular disease.
A diet rich in fruits and vegetables can
help offset this damage because of the antioxidant
carotenoids which act as free radical
quenchers.
The combination of lycopene, phytoene
and phytofluene present in tomatoes has
specifically been shown to decrease cancer
risk. The human body does not produce
lycopene on it own; health conscious individuals
should be eating a lycopene and phytonutrient-
rich diet or taking an all-natural
tomato extract supplement.
Dr. Edward Giovannucci, from Harvard
Medical School, recently reviewed 72 epidemiological
studies and found that 52 of
those studies pointed to the role of tomatoes
and tomato products in reducing the risk of a
variety of cancers. This is especially important
news for women because lycopene, combined
with phytoene and phytofluene, has
been shown to interfere with breast and
endometrial cancer cell growth, help prevent
tumors and reduce the progression of new
ones and is associated with a reduced risk of
ovarian cancer. The beneficial effects of
tomatoes and natural tomato complex
become even more relevant for women when
the topic is breast cancer, the leading cancer
in women.
Lyc-O-Mato may be effective
in preventing prostate cancer.
In a six-year study of 48,000 male health professionals,
Dr. Giovannucci and colleagues at
Harvard Medical School found that consuming
tomatoes, tomato sauce or pizza
more than twice a week, as opposed to never,
was associated with a reduced risk of prostate
cancer of 21 to 34 percent, depending on the
food.
As exciting as its cancer prevention potential
is the evidence that shows that lycopene
may help fight existing cancer. A paper published
in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers
and Prevention by Omer Kucuk, M.D., professor
of medicine and oncology, and his colleagues
at the Karmanos Cancer Institute in
Detroit, Michigan, evaluated the effect
encapsulated Lyc-O-Mato had on patients
with existing prostate cancer. In this study
Dr. Kucuk and colleagues followed 30 men
with localized prostate cancer who were
scheduled to undergo surgical removal of the
prostate. For three weeks prior to surgery the
study participants were randomly assigned to
receive either 250 milligrams Lyc-O-Mato
from LycoRed Natural Products, Beer-Sheva, Israel (which contains 15 milligram of
lycopene) twice daily or no intervention.
Following removal of the prostate, the
glands were analyzed to determine whether
there were any differences between the two
study groups. The investigators found that
the treated group had smaller tumors, which
were more likely to be confined to the
prostate. Levels of serum PSA were found to
decline in the patients who received
Lyc-O-Mato tomato extract. In addition, the
tumors in patients who consumed this natural
lycopene showed signs of regression and
decreased malignancy.
More than 50 million Americans suffering
from hypertension are seeking advice
from their doctors to find the best way to
lower their blood pressure. Often referred to
as a ilent killer,?hypertension contributes
to more than 75 percent of all strokes and
heart attacks, affecting more than half of all
Americans over age 65. Many are being
advised to make major lifestyle changes,
including eating right and exercising. Others
are taking expensive blood pressure-lowering
medication that can sometimes have serious
side effects.
Research published in abstract form in
the May 2002 issue of the American Journal
of Hypertension could provide a new treatment
alternative for hypertensive patients
unwilling to make lifestyle changes or take
blood-pressure lowering medications. In a
single-blind, placebo-controlled crossover
trial, Esther Paran, M.D., the study principal
investigator, evaluated the effect of
Lyc-O-Mato, a standardized natural tomato
extract rich in lycopene, on 35 male hypertensive
patients.
Paran, who is head of the Hypertension
Unit at Soroka University Hospital, Faculty
of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University
of the Negev in Ber Sheva, Israel, studied
mild hypertensive patients between the ages
of 45 and 60 years old. The patients were
administered a daily dose of identical
placebos for the first four weeks of the study
followed by a 250 mg daily dose of
Lyc-O-Mato, which contains 15 mg of
lycopene, for the final eight weeks of the
study. Preliminary results of the study indicated
a significant reduction in systolic
blood pressure in treated patients.
his research is the first of its kind to
provide documented evidence that a natural
tomato extract can manage blood pressure in
mild hypertensive patients,?Dr. Paran said.
his is fantastic news for those who have
had a difficult time controlling mild to moderate
hypertension through lifestyle changes
alone.?
The study found systolic blood pressure
was lowered from 144 to 135, an average of 9
mm Hg reduction. Diastolic blood pressure
was lowered an average of 4.5 grams mm Hg.
Beneficial effects on blood lipids, lipoproteins
and oxidative stress markers were also
noted in the study.
he level to which blood pressure was
lowered as a result of Lyc-O-Mato was comparable
to the level at which blood pressure
is lowered through drug intervention,?
Dr. Paran stated.
Lyc-O-Mato is available in softgel form in
dietary supplements as well as in tablets and
capsules. It is also finding its way into functional
foods. Most significant epidemiological
studies, including those cited in this
article, utilized dosages of 250 mg of Lyc-OMato
per day, which contains 15 mg of
lycopene along with other phytonutrients.
Consumers should look for labels
indicating ?5 mg of
lycopene from Lyc-O-Mato
or a standardized natural
tomato extract.?
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