Cooked tomatoes could eradicate prostate cancer cells

COOKED tomatoes could slow down and even eradicate prostate cancer cells, scientists said today.

Researchers tested the effect of lycopene, a nutrient, on the mechanism which allow cancer cells to take over the body’s healthy blood supply to grow and advance through the body.

Dr Mridula Chopra and colleagues at the University of Portsmouth found that, in laboratory tests, lycopene, which gives tomatoes their red colour, intercepts cancer’s ability to make the connections it needs to attach to a healthy blood supply.

Director of the research Dr Chopra said: “This simple chemical reaction was shown to occur at lycopene concentrations that can easily be achieved by eating processed tomatoes.”

Lycopene is present in all red fruits and vegetables, but its concentrations are highest in tomatoes and it becomes more readily available and biologically active when it comes from processed tomatoes with a small amount of cooking oil added.

The research, published in the British Journal of Nutrition, was part-funded by Heinz after the food manufacturer asked for further research to follow up earlier studies by the same researchers which showed a significant increase in lycopene levels in blood and semen samples after subjects ate 400g (14oz) of processed tomatoes for two weeks.