Lymphocyte lycopene concentration and DNA protection from oxidative damageis increased in women after a short period of tomato consumption

Several epidemiologic studies have suggested a role of tomato products in p rotecting against cancer and chronic diseases. In nine adult women, we eval uated whether the consumption of 25 g tomato puree (containing 7 mg lycopen e and 0.3 mg beta-carotene) for 14 consecutive days increased plasma and ly mphocyte carotenoid concentration and whether this was related to an improv ement in lymphocyte resistance to an oxidative stress (500 mu mol/L hydroge n peroxide for 5 min). Before and after the period of tomato intake, carote noid concentrations were analyzed by HPLC and lymphocyte resistance to oxid ative stress by the Comet assay, which detects DNA strand breaks. Intake of tomato puree increased plasma (P < 0.001) and lymphocyte (P < 0.005) lycop ene concentration and reduced lymphocyte DNA damage by similar to 50% (P < 0.0001). beta-Carotene concentration increased in plasma (P < 0.05) but not in lymphocytes after tomato puree consumption. An inverse relationship was found between plasma lycopene concentration (r = - 0.82, P < 0.0001) and l ymphocyte lycopene concentration (r = -0.62, P < 0.01) and the oxidative DN A damage. In conclusion, small amounts of tomato puree added to the diet ov er a short period can increase carotenoid concentrations and the resistance of lymphocytes to oxidative stress.