Tomato paste rich in lycopene protects against cutaneous photodamage in humans in vivo: A randomized controlled trial

Background Previous epidemiological, animal and human data report that lycopene has a protective effect against ultraviolet radiation (UVR)-induced erythema. Objectives We examined whether tomato paste - rich in lycopene, a powerful antioxidant - can protect human skin against UVR-induced effects partially mediated by oxidative stress, i.e. erythema, matrix changes and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) damage. Methods In a randomized controlled study, 20 healthy women (median age 33 years, range 21-47; phototype I/II) ingested 55 g tomato paste (16 mg lycopene) in olive oil, or olive oil alone, daily for 12 weeks. Pre- and postsupplementation, UVR erythemal sensitivity was assessed visually as the minimal erythema dose (MED) and quantified with a reflectance instrument. Biopsies were taken from unexposed and UVR-exposed (3 Ö MED 24 h earlier) buttock skin pre- and postsupplementation, and analysed immunohistochemically for procollagen (pC) I, fibrillin-1 and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, and by quantitative polymerase chain reaction for mtDNA 3895-bp deletion. Results Mean ± SD erythemal D30 was significantly higher following tomato paste vs. control (baseline, 26·5 ± 7·5 mJ cm-2; control, 23 ± 6·6 mJ cm-2; tomato paste, 36·6 ± 14·7 mJ cm-2; P = 0·03), while the MED was not significantly different between groups (baseline, 35·1 ± 9·9 mJ cm-2; control, 32·6 ± 9·6 mJ cm-2; tomato paste, 42·2 ± 11·3 mJ cm-2). Presupplementation, UVR induced an increase in MMP-1 (P = 0·01) and a reduction in fibrillin-1 (P = 0·03). Postsupplementation, UVR-induced MMP-1 was reduced in the tomato paste vs. control group (P = 0·04), while the UVR-induced reduction in fibrillin-1 was similarly abrogated in both groups, and an increase in pCI deposition was seen following tomato paste (P = 0·05). mtDNA 3895-bp deletion following 3 Ö MED UVR was significantly reduced postsupplementation with tomato paste (P = 0·01). Conclusions Tomato paste containing lycopene provides protection against acute and potentially longer-term aspects of photodamage. © 2010 British Association of Dermatologists.