Lycopene rich Tomato juice can reduce osteoporosis, claims study
Tomato juice can significantly increase the presence of cell-protecting antioxidants that help to fight against osteoporosis, according to new research.
Writing in Osteoporosis International, calcium researchers at the University of Toronto claim 30mg of lycopene found in tomatoes, the equivalent to two glasses of tomato juice, is enough to help prevent the brittle-bone disease.
The study was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and several other food industry groups.
Osteoporosis is the presence of low bone mass, which leads to an increase risk of fractures, especially the hips, spine and wrists. An estimated 75 million people suffer from it in Europe, the US and Japan.
Women are four times more likely to develop osteoporosis than men and previous research indicates that diabetes decreases bone turnover that is associated with impaired osteoblastic maturation and function.
Lycopene is the red pigment in tomatoes and several fruits. According to the study scientists, it is a potent carotenoid – a group of naturally occurring pigments essential for plant growth – with a high ability to quench singlet oxygen.
Due to this ability to decrease oxidative stress, lycopene has been associated with a decreased risk of chronic diseases.
Post-menopausal women aged 50 to 60 were restricted from consuming anything containing lycopene for a month. Participants were split into four groups over four months. Each group of participants either consumed a 15mg lycopene supplement, a glass of tomato juice naturally containing 15mg of lycopene, a gourmet Japanese tomato juice with 35mg of lycopene or a placebo.
By the end of the initial lycopene-free month, in every participant, "There was an increased reabsorption of bone. In other words, within a month, the participants were more prone to the risk of osteoporosis," says Researcher, Leticia Rao, who conducted the study.
After four months, results showed that lycopene-supplementation had significantly increased serum lycopene compared to the placebo group. The lycopene groups had significantly increased antioxidant capacity, decreased oxidative stress parameters and decreased bone reabsorption markers.
Researchers conclude the results of the study showed a significant increase in serum lycopene after supplementation with juice or lycopene based capsules, which resulted in a decrease in the bone resorption marker NTx in postmenopausal women:
“Our findings are the first to show that lycopene intervention, given in capsule or juice form, supplying at least 30 mg/day, may decrease the risk of osteoporosis by decreasing oxidative stress and bone resorption.”
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- Published online ahead of print: 10.1007/s00198-010-1308-0
Title: Supplementation with the antioxidant lycopene significantly decreases oxidative stress parameters and the bone resorption marker N-telopeptide of type I collagen in postmenopausal women Source: http://www.beveragedaily.com/
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