Effects of a lycopene-rich diet on spontaneous and benzo[a]pyrene-induced mutagenesis in prostate, colon and lungs of the lacZ mouse

Consumption of lycopene has been associated with reduced risk of prostate c ancer. We have investigated the effects of lycopene. fed as a lycopene-rich tomato oleoresin (LTO) at two doses, on in vivo mutagenesis in prostate. c olon, and lungs of lacZ mice. Both short-term benzo[a]pyrene (BaP)- induced and long-term spontaneous mutagenesis were monitored. Nonsignificant inhib ition of spontaneous mutagenesis in prostate and colon was observed at the higher dose of LTO, and the observation of inhibition in colon was facilita ted by an unusually high spontaneous mutagenesis rate. BaP-induced mutagens is was slightly inhibited by LTO in prostate. However, enhancement of BaP-i nduced-mutagenesis was observed in colon and Lung. These results indicate t hat any antimutagenic effects of LTO may be organospecific. (C) 2001 Elsevi er Science ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.