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Gene & Protein in Disease Natural carotenoids prevent prostate cancer

levels and bone scans were obtained from patients before lycopene regimen and in 67% of patients who received
and every 3 months post-intervention, and the clinical the lycopene and soy isoflavone regimen. Moreover,
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response was determined by changes in these parameters. in a randomized control trial, 79 men diagnosed with
Both treatments significantly reduced PSA levels after PCa were randomly assigned to receive the following for
6 months; however, the drop in PSA levels in the lycopene a period of 3 weeks: 30 mg/day of lycopene-containing
group was more noticeable. These changes were observed tomato products, tomato products along with green/black
to be more prominent 2 years after the intervention. In the tea, soy isoflavones, selenium, omega-3 fatty acids, and
orchidectomy group, only 15% of the patients exhibited grape/pomegranate juice, or a control diet. According
a full response, compared to 30% in the other groups, to tumor classification, the median PSA levels in
according to bone scans. Therefore, combining surgical intermediate-risk patients dropped considerably in the
resection with lycopene leads to a more consistent and intervention group compared to controls. In addition,
maintained reduction in serum PSA levels. 114 they found that participants with the highest rise in serum
In an additional clinical intervention, 26 patients lycopene and selenium concentrations had a median
newly diagnosed with PCa were randomly assigned to an PSA value reduction of 1%, whereas participants with
intervention group and a control group. The intervention the lowest increase in serum lycopene and selenium
group received an extract of tomato oleoresin with 30 mg concentrations experienced a median PSA value increase
lycopene, while the control group received no lycopene of 8.5%. Moreover, PSA levels were lower in patients who
supplementation for 3 weeks before radical prostatectomy. experienced the greatest increase in lycopene levels alone.
After the intervention, PSA levels in the lycopene group were These findings imply that the outcome may be influenced
reduced by 18%, compared to a 14% increase in the control by the aggressiveness of the disease and the concentration
group. Notably, 80% of participants in the intervention of lycopene, selenium, and omega-3 fatty acids in serum.
group developed tumors that were 4 cc or less, whereas In addition, daily consumption of tomato products
this percentage was 45% in the control group. High-grade containing 30mg of lycopene for 3 weeks potentially
prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia was detected in 67% of reduces PSA levels. 118
the patients in the intervention group compared to 100% 4. Challenges pertaining to the use of
in the control group. Another study conducted between
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2001 and 2002 assessed the effect of lycopene in patients carotenoids
with metastatic hormone-refractory PCa (HRPC). Twenty A major concern regarding the use of carotenoids is
HRPC patients participated in the trial, receiving 10 mg their bioavailability, which depends on their release and
of lycopene daily for 3 months. Among them, one patient absorption from the food matrix. Specifically, bioavailability
demonstrated a full response, six patients demonstrated refers to the fraction of a compound that is released from
partial response, 10 patients remained stable, and three the food matrix into the blood circulation. This process
patients experienced disease progression. In addition, half includes absorption, metabolism, transportation in the form
of the patients experienced bone pain. Five patients had of micelles to the gastrointestinal tract (a process known
no pain to mild pain, while five other patients had mild as micellization), and tissue distribution. Bioavailability
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to severe pain. Bone pain remained stable in five patients is dependent on multiple factors and can be estimated
and worsened in one patient. Of the 10 patients, 60% were only after the administration of the total carotenoid dose.
able to reduce their daily analgesic dose. Eighteen patients Lipophilicity and the presence of fiber play a key role in
experienced lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), of the micellization and digestion process, respectively. For
whom 60% reported symptom improvement. Therefore, instance, evidence indicates that xanthophylls, such as
lycopene treatment appears to be efficient and reliable in lutein, zeaxanthin, and β-cryptoxanthin, have a better
the management of HRPC, as it controls PSA levels and absorption profile than carotenes due to the presence of
reduces bone pain and LUTS. 116 oxygen, which is an electron-withdrawing group. Out
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Moreover, a phase II clinical trial conducted in 2007 of the heterogeneous mixture of carotenoids, lycopene
evaluated the effect of lycopene on PSA levels in PCa displays the strongest antioxidant activity, while lutein
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patients, either alone or in combination with soybean- is the least effective. The presence of oxygen is also
derived isoflavones. Out of 71 participants, 33 received prevalent during digestion, as stomach fluid provides a
tomato extract capsules in combination with a 40 mg conducive environment for further lipid peroxidation,
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soy-based isoflavone capsule blend twice a day for up which induces carotenoid oxygen saturation. Burton and
to 6 months, while 38 participants received the tomato Ingold have found that carotenoid activity is dependent
extract capsules separately (15 mg of lycopene). Serum upon the partial pressure of oxygen (pO ), with higher
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PSA levels stabilized in 95% of patients who received the pO levels being associated with prooxidant activity.
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Volume 3 Issue 1 (2024) 10 https://doi.org/10.36922/gpd.2827