Tomato As a Functional Food

• Published in: The Journal of nutrition Vol. 135; no. 5; pp. 1226 - 1230
• Main Authors: Canene-Adams, Kirstie, Campbell, Jessica K, Zaripheh, Susan, Jeffery, Elizabeth H, Erdman, John W
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD American Society for Nutritional Sciences 01.05.2005
• Subjects: bioactive properties; Biological and medical sciences; cardiovascular diseases; Carotenoids; Cooking; Coronary Disease - epidemiology; Coronary Disease - prevention & control; disease course; epidemiology; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Food; food composition; Food Handling; food intake; functional foods; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; literature reviews; lycopene; Lycopersicon esculentum; Male; nutrient content; phytochemicals; prostatic neoplasms; Prostatic Neoplasms - prevention & control; risk reduction; tomatoes; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Urinary system disease; Vegetables; Prostate disease; Nutrition; Cardiovascular disease; Malignant tumor; Antioxidant; Tomato; Lycopene; Health food; Male genital diseases; Carotenoid; Prostate cancer
• ISSN: 0022-3166; 1541-6100
• DOI: 10.1093/jn/135.5.1226

Tomatoes are the fourth most commonly consumed fresh vegetable and the most frequently consumed canned vegetable in the American diet. There is emerging epidemiology data supporting the connection between increased tomato consumption and reduced risk for both cardiovascular disease and prostate cancer. Here we will summarize the nutrient and the phytochemical content of tomatoes and tomato products, and how these bioactive components might act together to modulate disease development. Recent animal studies have investigated tomatoes, lycopene, and prostate cancer using the N-methyl-N-nitrosourea and Dunning rat models. These animal studies also suggest that diets containing tomatoes may decrease the risk or the progression of prostate cancer. Due to the frequency and the extent of tomato consumption, the supporting epidemiological and animal data, which connect increased intakes with decreased cancer and cardiovascular disease risk, tomato's role in the American diet is of undeniable importance as part of a healthy diet.