Chronic ingestion of lycopene-rich tomato juice or lycopene supplements significantly increases plasma concentrations of lycopene and related tomato carotenoids in humans

The bioavailability of lycopene from tomato juice and 2 dietary supplements , each containing 70-75 mg lycopene, was studied in 15 healthy volunteers i n a randomized, crossover design. Subjects ingested lycopene-rich tomato ju ice, tomato oleoresin, lycopene beadlets, and a placebo for 4 wk each while consuming self-selected diets. Treatment periods were separated by 6-wk wa shout periods. Plasma lycopene concentrations, assessed at baseline and wee kly throughout the treatment periods, were significantly higher during toma to juice, oleoresin, and lycopene beadlet ingestion than during placebo ing estion. Mean (+/-SEM) increases in plasma lycopene at week 4 of tomato juic e, oleoresin, and lycopene beadlet ingestion were not significantly differe nt: 0.24 +0.07, 0.23 +/- 0.05, and 0.24 +/- 0.06 mu mol/L, respectively. Pl asma concentrations of phytofluene and phytoene, which were present in smal l amounts in tomato juice, oleoresin, and lycopene beadlets, increased sign ificantly with ingestion of these 3 products. beta-Carotene, zeta-carotene, and 2,6-cyclolycopene-1,5-diol (a metabolite of lycopene)-also present in tomato juice and supplements-were significantly increased with consumption of the tomato juice and lycopene beadlets, but not with oleoresin consumpti on. A marked increase in plasma concentrations of an unknown compound was o bserved; it was detected in trace amounts in tomato juice, oleoresin, and l ycopene beadlets, and had a maximum absorbance at 448 nm and a molecular we ight of 556. Concentrations of plasma lycopene and other carotenoids with p otential for enhancing human health can be increased by ingestion of realis tic amounts of tomato juice. Lycopene appears to be equally bioavailable fr om tomato juice and the supplements used in this study.