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Lycopene-rich products and dietary photoprotection

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Abstract

Plant constituents such as carotenoids and flavonoids are involved in the light-protecting system in plants and contribute to the prevention of UV damage in humans. As micronutrients they are ingested with the diet and are distributed into light-exposed tissues where they provide systemic photoprotection. β-Carotene is an endogenous photoprotector, and its efficacy to prevent UV-induced erythema formation has been demonstrated in intervention studies. Lycopene is the major carotenoid of the tomato and is a very efficient singlet oxygen quencher in the group of carotenoids. Following ingestion of lycopene or tomato-derived products rich in lycopene, photoprotective effects have been demonstrated. After 10-12 weeks of intervention a decrease in the sensitivity towards UV-induced erythema was observed in volunteers. Dietary carotenoids may contribute to life-long protection against harmful UV radiation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Biochemie und Molekularbiologie I, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, P.O. Box 101007, D-40001, Düsseldorf, Germany

    Wilhelm Stahl, Olivier Aust & Helmut Sies

  2. Institut für Experimentelle Dermatologie, Universität Witten-Herdecke, Alfred-Herrhausen-Str. 44, D-58455, Witten, Germany

    Ulrike Heinrich & Hagen Tronnier

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  1. Wilhelm Stahl
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  2. Ulrike Heinrich
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  5. Helmut Sies
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Correspondence to Helmut Sies.

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Stahl, W., Heinrich, U., Aust, O. et al. Lycopene-rich products and dietary photoprotection. Photochem Photobiol Sci 5, 238–242 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1039/b505312a

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