Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Lycopene consumption decreases oxidative stress and bone resorption markers in postmenopausal women

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Osteoporosis International Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Introduction

Oxidative stress induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS) is associated with the risk of osteoporosis, and can be reduced by certain dietary antioxidants. Lycopene is an antioxidant known to decrease the risk of age-related chronic diseases, such as cancer. However, the role of lycopene in osteoporosis has not yet been investigated.

Materials and methods

In a cross-sectional study, 33 postmenopausal women aged 50–60 years provided seven-day dietary records and blood samples. Serum samples were used to measure serum lycopene, lipid peroxidation, protein thiols, bone alkaline phosphatase (BAP), and cross-linked N-telopeptides of type I collagen (NTx). The serum lycopene per kilogram body weight of the participants was grouped into quartiles and associated with the above serum parameters using one-way ANOVA and the Newman-Keuls post-test.

Results

The results showed that groups with higher lycopene intake, as determined from the dietary records, had higher serum lycopene (p<0.02). A higher serum lycopene was found to be associated with a low NTx (p<0.005). Similarly, groups with higher serum lycopene had lower protein oxidation (p<0.05).

Discussion

In conclusion, these results suggest that the dietary antioxidant lycopene reduces oxidative stress and the levels of bone turnover markers in postmenopausal women, and may be beneficial in reducing the risk of osteoporosis.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. World Health Organization (1994) Assessment of fracture risk and its application to screening for postmenopausal osteoporosis: Report of a WHO Study Group. World Health Organ Tech Rep Ser 843:1–129

    Google Scholar 

  2. Garnero P, Hausherr E, Chapuy MC, Marcelli C, Grandjean H, Muller C, Cormier C, Breart G, Meunier PJ, Delmas PD (1996) Markers of bone resorption predict hip fracture risk in elderly women: the EPIDOS Prospective Study. J Bone Miner Res 11(10):1531–1538

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. de Vernejoul M-C (1998) Markers of bone remodeling in metabolic bone disease. Drugs Aging 12(Suppl 1):9–14

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Kushida K, Takahashi M, Kawana K, Inoue T (1995) Comparison of markers for bone formation and resorption in premenopausal and postmenopausal subjects, and osteoporosis patients. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 80(8):2447–2450

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Beers MH, Berkow RB (eds) (1999) The Merck manual of diagnosis and therapy. Merck Research Laboratories, Whitehouse Station, New Jersey

    Google Scholar 

  6. Fischer M, Raue F (1999) Measurements of bone mineral density. Mineral density in metabolic bone disease. Q J Nucl Med 43(3):233–240

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Basu S, Michaelsson K, Olofsson H, Johansson S, Melhus H (2001) Association between oxidative stress and bone mineral density. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 288(1):275–279

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Melhus H, Michaelsson K, Holmberg L, Wolk A, Jungall L (1999) Smoking, antioxidant vitamins, and the risk of hip fracture. J Bone Miner Res 14(1):129–135

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Maggio D, Barabani M, Pierandrei M, Polidori MC, Catani M, Mecocci P, Senin U, Pacifici R, Cherubini A (2003) Marked decrease in plasma antioxidants in aged osteoporotic women: results of a cross-sectional study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 88(4):1523–1527

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Rao L, Krishnadev N, Banasikowska K, Rao A (2003) Lycopene I—effect of osteoclasts: lycopene inhibits basal and parathyroid hormone-stimulated osteoclast formation and mineral resorption mediated by reactive oxygen species in rat bone marrow cultures. J Med Food 6(2):69–78

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Kim L, Rao AV, Rao LG (2003) Lycopene II—effect on osteoblasts: the carotenoid lycopene stimulates cell proliferation and alkaline phosphatase activity of SaOS-2 cells. J Med Food 6(2):79–86

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Park CK, Ishimi Y, Ohmura M, Yamaguchi M, Ikegami S (1997) Vitamin A and carotenoids stimulate differentiation of mouse osteoblastic cells. J Nutr Sci and Vitaminol 43(3):281–296

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Rao AV, Agarwal S (1999) Role of lycopene as antioxidant carotenoid in the prevention of chronic diseases: a review. Nutr Res 19(2):305–323

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Stahl W, Schwarz W, Sundquist AR, Sies H (1992) cis-trans isomers of lycopene and beta-carotene in human serum and tissues. Arch Biochem Biophys 294(1):173–177

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Hu M (1994) Measurement of protein thiol groups and glutathione in plasma. Methods Enzymol 233:380–385

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Draper HH, Squires EJ, Mahmoodi H, Wu J, Agarwal S, Hadley MA (1993) Comparative evaluation of thiobarbituric acid methods for the determination of malondialdehyde in biological materials. Free Radic Biol Med 15(4):353–363

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Grolier P, Boirie Y, Levadoux E, Brandolini M, Borel P, Azais-Braesco V, Beaufrere B, Ritz P (2000) Age-related changes in plasma lycopene concentrations, but not in vitamin E, are associated with fat mass. Br J Nutr 84(5):711–716

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Rock CL, Thornquist MD, Kristal AR, Patterson RE, Cooper DA, Neuhouser ML, Neumark-Sztainer D, Cheskin LJ (1999) Demographic, dietary and lifestyle factors differentially explain variability in serum carotenoids and fat-soluble vitamins: baseline results from the sentinel site of the Olestra Post-Marketing Surveillance Study. J Nutr 129(4):855–864

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Mackinnon E, Rao A, Josse R, Murray T, Rao L (2006) Lycopene in the serum of postmenopausal women has interactive effects with the dietary components calcium and vitamin C on oxidative stress and bone turnover markers in international osteoporosis foundation world congress on osteoporosis. In: Proceedings of the International Osteoporosis Foundation World Congress on Osteoporosis, Toronto, Canada, June 2006

  20. Zhang J, Munger RG, West NA, Cutler DR, Wengreen HJ, Corcoran CD (2006) Antioxidant intake and risk of osteoporotic hip fracture in Utah: an effect modified by smoking status. Am J Epidemiol 163(1):9–17

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Maggio D, Polidori CM, Barabani M, Tufi A, Ruggeiero C, Cecchetti R, Aisa MC, Stahl W, Cherubini A (2005) Low levels of carotenoids and retinol in involutional osteoporosis. Bone 38(2):244–248

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Mayne ST, Cartmel B, Silva F, Kim CS, Fallon BG, Briskin K, Zheng T, Baum M, Shor-Posner G, Goodwin WJ Jr (1999) Plasma lycopene concentrations in humans are determined by lycopene intake, plasma cholesterol concentration and selected demographic factors. J Nutr 129(4):849–854

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Casso D, White E, Patterson RE, Agurs-Collins T, Kooperburg C, Haines PS (2000) Correlates of serum lycopene in older women. Nutr Cancer 36(2):163–169

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Dominguez Cabrera C, Sosa Henriquez M, Traba ML, Alvarez Villafane E, de la Piedra C (1998) Biochemical markers of bone formation in the study of postmenopausal osteoporosis. Osteoporos Int 8(2):147–151

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Keen RW, Nguyen T, Sobnack R, Perry LA, Thompson PW, Spector TD (1996) Can biochemical markers predict bone loss at the hip and spine?: a 4-year prospective study of 141 early postmenopausal women. Osteoporos Int 6(5):399–406

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Sellmeyer DE, Schloetter M, Sebastian A (2002) Potassium citrate prevents increased urine calcium excretion and bone resorption induced by a high sodium chloride diet. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 87(5):2008–2012

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Greenspan SL, Parker RA, Ferguson L, Rsen HN, Maitland-Ramsey L, Karpf DB (1998) Early changes in biochemical markers of bone turnover predict the long-term response to alendronate therapy in representative elderly women: a randomized clinical trial. J Bone Miner Res 13(9):1431–1438

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Stepan JJ, Vokrouhlicka J (1999) Comparison of biochemical markers of bone remodelling in the assessment of the effects of alendronate on bone in postmenopausal osteoporosis. Clin Chim Acta 288(1–2):121–135

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Rao AV (2004) Processed tomato products as a source of dietary lycopene: bioavailability and antioxidant properties. Can J Diet Pract Res 65(4):161–165

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Hininger IA, Meyer-Wenger A, Moser U, Wright A, Southon S, Thurnham DI, Chopra M, Van den Berg H, Olmedilla B, Favier AE, Roussel AM (2001) No significant effects of lutein, lycopene or beta-carotene supplementation on biological markers of oxidative stress and LDL oxidizability in healthy adult subjects. J Am Coll Nutr 20(3):232–238

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Matos HR, Di Mascio P, Medeiros MHG (2000) Protective effect of lycopene on lipid peroxidation and oxidative DNA damage in cell culture. Arch Biochem Biophys 383(1):56–59

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Bhuvaneswari V, Velmurugan B, Abraham SK, Nagini S (2004) Tomato and garlic by gavage modulate 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-induced genotoxicity and oxidative stress in mice. Braz J Med Biol Res 37(7):1029–1034

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Rao AV, Agarwal S (1998) Bioavailability and in vivo antioxidant properties of lycopene from tomato products and their possible role in the prevention of cancer. Nutr Cancer 31(3):199–203

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Agarwal S, Rao AV (1998) Tomato lycopene and low density lipoprotein oxidation: a human dietary intervention study. Lipids 33(10):981–984

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. O’Neill ME, Carroll Y, Corridan B, Olmedilla F, Granado F, Blanco I, Van den Berg H, Hininger IA, Rousell AM, Chopra M, Southon S, Thurnham DI (2001) A European carotenoid database to assess carotenoid intakes and its use in a five-country comparative study. Br J Nutr 85(4):499–507

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Wolf RL, Cauley JA, Pettinger M, Jackson R, Lacroix A, Leboff MS, Lewis CE, Nevitt MC, Simon JA, Stone KL, Wactawski-Wende J (2005) Lack of relation between vitamin and mineral antioxidants and bone mineral density: results from the Women’s Health Initiative. Am J Clin Nutr 82(3):581–588

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Funding is shared by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Research and Development Departments of Genuine Health Inc., the H.J. Heinz Co., Millenium Biologix Inc. (Canada), Kagome Co. (Japan), and LycoRed Natural Product Industries, Ltd. (Israel). We thank the assistance of Ms. H. Shen for the HPLC analysis, and Dr. C. Derzko and Mr. M. Simms for initial participant recruitment.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada

    L. G. Rao, E. S. Mackinnon, R. G. Josse, T. M. Murray & A. Strauss

  2. Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    A. V. Rao

  3. Calcium Research Laboratory, Suite 2022, St. Michael’s Hospital, 38 Shuter Street, Toronto, ON, M5B 1A6, Canada

    L. G. Rao

Authors
  1. L. G. Rao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. E. S. Mackinnon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. R. G. Josse
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. T. M. Murray
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. A. Strauss
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. A. V. Rao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to L. G. Rao.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Rao, L.G., Mackinnon, E.S., Josse, R.G. et al. Lycopene consumption decreases oxidative stress and bone resorption markers in postmenopausal women. Osteoporos Int 18, 109–115 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-006-0205-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-006-0205-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation