Nutraceuticals and nootropics for anti-aging

Why does lycopene kill cancerous prostate cells?

An epidemiological study in 1995 showed that prostate cancer risk is lower in men who consume more lycopene. Lycopene immediately became the focus of many researchers seeking to understand the molecular mechanisms responsible for this action against prostate cancer. The most common speculation has been that lycopene’s antioxidant behavior is somehow responsible. Another explanation, based on lab experiments, is that lycopene may interfere with molecular signalling pathways that cancer cells use to respond to growth factors.

Now the latter explanation has been fleshed out with some real molecular details. Researchers in Berlin monitored the expression of thousands of genes in prostate tumors in two groups of animals — one group was fed lycopene. The differences in gene activity led the researchers to the conclusion that lycopene interferes with the production of dihydrotestosterone — a hormone known to stimulate prostate cancer cells. It does this by reducing the activity of the gene that codes for the enzyme responsible for making DHT from testosterone. Furthermore, lycopene inhibited genes coding for two prostatic signalling molecules, IGF-1 and IL-6, both of which play a role in the growth of prostate cancer cells.

Link to report on gene expression study:

Lycopene and prostate cancer: breakthrough in understanding

Link to abstract of 1995 study connecting lycopene with lower cancer risk:

Intake of carotenoids and retinol in relation to risk of prostate cancer.

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LifeLink carries Lycopene in 10 mg softgels.