Lycopene Inhibits Disease Progression in Patients with Benign Prostate Hyperplasia

Abstract

Lycopene is a promising nutritional component for chemoprevention of prostate cancer (PCa). A possibly beneficial role of lycopene in patients diagnosed with benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), who are at increased risk of developing PCa, has been suggested, although clinical data are lacking. Therefore, this pilot study aimed to investigate the effects of lycopene supplementation in elderly men diagnosed with BPH. A total of 40 patients with histologically proven BPH free of PCa were randomized to receive either lycopene at a dose of 15 mg/d or placebo for 6 mo. The effects of the intervention on carotenoid status, clinical diagnostic markers of prostate proliferation, and symptoms of the disease were assessed. The primary endpoint of the study was the inhibition or reduction of increased serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. The 6-mo lycopene supplementation decreased PSA levels in men (P < 0.05), whereas there was no change in the placebo group. The plasma lycopene concentration increased in the group taking lycopene (P < 0.0001) but other plasma carotenoids were not affected. Whereas progression of prostate enlargement occurred in the placebo group as assessed by trans-rectal ultrasonography (P < 0.05) and digital rectal examination (P < 0.01), the prostate did not enlarge in the lycopene group. Symptoms of the disease, as assessed via the International Prostate Symptom Score questionnaire, were improved in both groups with a significantly greater effect in men taking lycopene supplements. In conclusion, lycopene inhibited progression of BPH.

A Combination of Micronutrients Is Beneficial in Reducing the Incidence of Prostate Cancer and Increasing Survival in theLadyTransgenic Model

“…The results of several epidemiologic stud- ies investigating the relationship between β-carotene intake and risk of PCa have been inconsistent (35,36). Until recently, only in vitro data (37,38) have supported the anticancer role played by lycopene; however, their efficacy in vivo has been convincing to a much lesser extent. There have been few studies in vivo that have shown a chemoprevention effect of lycopene either alone or in combination with certain selected micronutrients.…”

Effects of Serenoa Repens, Selenium and Lycopene (Profluss®) on chronic inflammation associated with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: results of “FLOG” (Flogosis and Profluss in Prostatic and Genital Disease), a multicentre Italian study

“…Besides SeR, both lycopene (LY), a dietary carotenoid synthesized by plants, fruits, and microorganisms with a strong antioxidant activity, and selenium (Se), an essential trace element mainly functioning through seleno-proteins and able to promote an optimal antioxidant/oxidant balance, have been shown to exert beneficial effects in BPH (12)(13)(14)(15)(16).…”

Chemoprevention of prostate cancer with nutrients and supplements

“…The 6-month lycopene supplementation at a dose of 15 mg/day decreased PSA levels in men (P , 0.05), inhibited disease progression, and improved the symptoms in BPH patients (P , 0.01) whereas there was no change in the placebo group. 59 Indications for potential suppressive effects of lycopene on disease progression in BPH exist from a previous pilot study in PCa patients showing an increase in apoptotic cell death by lycopene in cancer-free BPH tissue. 60 Moreover, analysis by experts of the World Cancer Research Fund shows that there is a sufficient body of evidence for the protective effect of lycopene-containing foods, especially tomatoes and their derivates, on PCa.…”