The benefits of lycopene on bone health in postmenopausal women

A recent randomized controlled study assessed for the first time the effect of lycopene supplementation on oxidative stress parameters associated with a reduced risk of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.

A total of 60 postmenopausal women, aged 50-60 years were divided into 4 groups of 15 and consumed 2 times per day for 4 months either:

(1) 30mg/day of lycopene from tomato juice

(2) 70mg/day lycopene from tomato juice enriched with lycopene

(3) 30mg/day lycopene from by Lyc-O-Mato (R) lycopene capsules

(4) 0mg/jour lycopene via the placebo

Volunteers who consumed lycopene showed a significant increase in serum lycopene levels (p <0.001) and total antioxidant capacity (p <0.05), as well as a significant decrease in lipid peroxidation (p <0.05), protein oxidation (p <0.005) and cross-linked aminoterminal N-telopeptide (p <0.02) compared to placebo.

The authors conclude to a beneficial effect of lycopene on oxidative stress parameters and bone resorption marker NTx. It would be interesting to compare the effectiveness of the different sources of lycopene tested in this study.

Reference : Mackinnon ES, Rao AV, Josse RG, Rao LG, “Supplementation with the antioxidant lycopene significantly decreases oxidative stress parameters and the bone resorption marker N-telopeptide of type I collagen in postmenopausal women”, Osteoporos Int. 2010 Jun 15. 

After the “Big Mac whole wheat” in Mac Donalds, Quick recently launched the Bio sandwich. After the Bio drinking yoghurt and the Bio apple juice that we already can found in the fast-food restaurants, now, it is the the first cheeseburger Bio.

It would be really interesting to define what are the ingredients from organic farming, because, according to the regulation, 95% of the ingredients must come from organic farming to qualify for this designation.

Référence : site Quick :http://www.quick.fr/dmo/cartes-des-gouts-400019.html

Green S (E 142) is authorised as a food additive in the EU that has been previously evaluated by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) in 1964 and 1969. The SCF established an ADI of 5 mg/kg bw/day in 1984 based on a No-Observed-Adverse-Effect Level of 500 mg/kg bw/day in rats. The Panel considered that the present dataset of toxicity do not give reason to revise the ADI of 5 mg/kg bw/day allocated by SCF in 1984.

The Panel calculated a theoretical maximum daily exposure of 8.1 mg/kg bw/day for adults, and of 13.1 mg/kg bw/day for a typical 3 year-old child. High percentiles (95th/97.5th) are above the ADI of 5 mg/kg bw/day. The Panel further noted that the specifications for Green S need to be updated with respect to the percentage of material not accounted for that may represent sodium chloride and/or sodium sulphate as the principal uncoloured components.

The Panel noted that the JECFA specification for lead is ≤ 2 mg/kg whereas the EC specification is ≤ 10 mg/kg. The Panel noted that the aluminium lake of the colour could add to the daily intake of aluminium for which a Tolerable Weekly Intake of 1 mg aluminium/kg bw/week has been established, and that therefore specifications for the maximum level of aluminium in the lakes may be required.

While data suggest that polyphenol-rich products may improve endothelial function and other cardiovascular health risk factors, this study shows that consumption of grape polyphenols (800 mg) has no major impact on flow-mediated dilation in healthy (n=35) men.

References: van Mierlo LA, Zock PL, van der Knaap HC, Draijer R. Grape polyphenols do not affect vascular function in healthy men. J Nutr. 2010 Oct;140(10):1769-73

According to this review on the role of antioxidants and micronutrients in the prevention and treatment of ocular diseases, consumption of food-based antioxidants like beta-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin seem to be useful for the treatment of macular degeneration and cataracts. Supplements of vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E and zinc may prevent advanced age-related macular degeneration only in high-risk individuals.

Note that in the context of the regulation 1924/2006, such an efficacy cannot be claimed but to date the use of some ingredients already allows claiming on the “maintenance of normal vision.”

References: Agte V, Tarwadi K. The importance of nutrition in the prevention of ocular disease with special reference to cataract. Ophthalmic Res. 2010;44(3):166-72