High dietary lycopene intake is associated with stronger bones and lower
risk of fractures in postmenopausal women. Tomato products are high in
lycopene. People with osteoporosis might benefit from lycopene supplements.

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Lycopene consumption decreases oxidative stress and bone resorption markers
in postmenopausal women.
Rao LG, Mackinnon ES, Josse RG, Murray TM, Strauss A, Rao AV.
Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, St.
Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.

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. PMID: 16941193