High-Lycopene Tomato Intake Increases Serum Carotenoid Levels but not Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Healthy Adults

Fresh tomatoes higher in lycopene content than standard varieties have recently been designed. We hypothesized that consumption of fresh, high lycopene tomatoes (HEC) for 3-weeks, as compared to standard fresh tomatoes, (LEC) would result in significant increases in serum lycopene and reductions in oxidative stress and inflammation. Forty healthy adult men (37.5%) and women (62.5%) age 55.3±4.7 years (BMI = 25.1±3.3 kg/m2) completed this randomized, crossover, controlled tomato intervention. Serum lycopene, oxidative stress (8-OHdG, 8-iso-PGF2α) and inflammation (hsCRP) were assessed. Significant increases were seen in trans- and cis-lycopene (pre- and post-intervention, P < 0.0001), with cis-lycopene increasing significantly more during HEC consumption as compared to LEC (P=0.03). No significant changes in 8-OHdG, 8-iso-PGF2α or hsCRP were demonstrated. Consumption of HEC tomatoes resulted in significant elevations in serum lycopene but not significant reductions in oxidative stress or inflammation in this healthy adult population.