Lycopene May Protect Against Asthma

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http://www.mercola.com/2001/jan/7/lycopene_asthma.htm

Lycopene May Protect Against Asthma

Lycopene, a carotenoid found in red-hued fruits and vegetables including

tomatoes and others (see table below), seems to reduce the risk of

exercise-induced asthma (EIA) in some patients, Israeli researchers report.

Researchers studied 20 patients with EIA

Patients were randomly assigned to receive a once-daily treatment of 30 mg

of a lycopene supplement or an inactive placebo

After one week of treatment, 55% of the patients given lycopene showed

significant protection against EIA

Patients taking the lycopene supplements had elevated blood levels of

lycopene compared to the placebo group, and no changes were found in levels

of other carotenoids or other antioxidants such as retinol (vitamin A) or

tocopherols (vitamin E)

The researchers note that there is some evidence that dietary antioxidants

protect against EIA and lycopene has been shown to be a potent antioxidant.

The lycopene used is a proprietary formula known as LYC-O-MATO, produced by

the Israeli company LycoRed.

Researchers conclude " Our results indicate that a daily dose of lycopene

exerts a protective effect against EIA in some patients, most probably

through an in vivo antioxidative effect. "

Allergy, December, 2000; 55: 1184-1189

DR. MERCOLA'S COMMENT: Add exercise induced asthma to the long list of

lycopene benefits (see articles below).

However, it is worth pointing out that the product used in this and many of

the studies on lycopene is a product called LYC-O-MATO. This product is made

by an Israeli company named " LycoRed " . However, LycoRed is owned by one of

the biggest pesticide manufacturers in the world named " Makhteshim-Agan

Industries " . The company produces many pesticides, herbicides, fungicides,

and industrial chemicals. People should be aware of this fact if purchasing

products with this ingredient. It is a shame that the same companies making

$$ off people trying to be healthier are also the companies poisoning us in

the first place!!!

So the answer is to get your lycopene from foods (see table below),

preferably organic if possible.

Approximate Lycopene Content of Various Foods

(mg/100g wet weight)

Apricot, dried 0.86

Tomato sauce 6.20

Grapefruit, raw pink 3.36

Tomato paste 5.40-150.00

Guava, fresh 5.40

Tomato soup, condensed 7.99

Guava juice 3.34

Tomato powder, drum or spray dried 112.63-126.49

Papaya, fresh 2.00-5.30

Tomato juice 5.00-11.60

Tomatoes, fresh 0.88-4.20

Sun-dried tomato in oil 46.50

Tomatoes, cooked 3.70

Watermelon, fresh 2.30-7.20

Source: Clinton, -S.K.1998. Lycopene: Chemistry, Biology, and Implications

for human health and disease, Nutrition Review,56(2)P35-51