Tomatoes and Prostate Cancer

Written by Gloria Tsang, RD
Published in Sep 2004; Updated in Dec 2006

Tomatoes contain a powerful antioxidant called lycopene. Studies have found that lycopene may help reduce some risk of cancer and heart disease. The most compelling evidence so far is the role of tomatoes in prostate cancer prevention.

In a study of more than 40,000 health professionals, Harvard investigators found that men who ate more than 10 servings of tomato-based foods daily (like cooked tomatoes and tomato sauce) had a 35 percent lower risk of developing prostate cancer than those who ate the least amount of these foods. The benefits of tomatoes were more pronounced in men with advanced stages of prostate cancer.

In another study of prostate cancer, researchers looked at blood levels of lycopene and found that the risk of developing prostate cancer, especially aggressive cancer, decreased with increasing blood lycopene levels. Men taking 50 milligrams of lycopene daily had significantly higher level of lycopene. In this study, researchers found that high level of lycopene in the blood was associated with low PSA (prostate specific antigen) levels. High PSA levels in blood are often a sign of prostate cancer.

Enjoy the benefits of lycopene by eating more tomatoes and processed tomato products. Indeed, research showed that lycopene is better absorbed by the body when tomatoes are processed. It is due to the fact that lycopene is bound to tomato's cell structure. Processing releases lycopene from the cell structure.