On Jun 10, 12:58 pm, rpautrey2 <rpautr...[at]gmail.com> wrote:
- quote -

Also compounds found in fresh whole foods. And compounds meat from
properly raised meats. Those compounds are called nutrients. Real food
= real health.

Dehydrated tomatoes may fight prostate tumors

Last Updated: 2008-06-09 14:02:17 -0400 (Reuters Health)

By Amy Norton

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A compound found in dehydrated tomatoes
may help quash prostate cancer tumors, new animal research suggests.

Studies have come to conflicting conclusions as to whether tomatoes or
lycopene, an antioxidant found in tomatoes, might offer prostate
cancer protection. One recent study found no correlation between men's
blood levels of lycopene and their risk of prostate cancer.

The new findings, reported in the journal Cancer Research, suggest
that the processing of the tomato may be a key factor.

Researchers found that a form of carbohydrate called FruHis, found in
dehydrated tomatoes, appeared to protect rats from developing prostate
tumors. The greatest protection came from dehydrated tomatoes that had
been rehydrated into tomato paste and supplemented with additional
FruHis.

The findings could aid in developing new, less toxic cancer therapies,
said lead researcher Dr. Valeri V. Mossine, of the University of
Missouri in Columbia.

Mossine and his colleagues divided rats into four groups; one group
was fed a diet of normal chow, while the other three groups were given
chow supplemented with tomato powder, tomato paste, or tomato paste
with added FruHis.

All of the animals were treated with chemicals designed to induce
prostate tumors.

Rats on the high-FruHis diet lived longer than the other three groups.
What's more, the researchers found prostate tumors in only 18 percent
of these animals after death, compared with 63 percent of rats given
normal chow, and 43 percent and 39 percent of animals given tomato
powder and standard tomato paste, respectively.

Looking at FruHis activity in the lab dish, the researchers found that
it might work in two ways, Mossine told Reuters Health.

First, the compound seemed to act like an antioxidant, protecting
cells' DNA from oxidative damage that can lead to cancer. Then, when
combined with lycopene, FruHis was able to kill off prostate cancer
cells.

So in theory, Mossine explained, FruHis may inhibit the initial
development of prostate tumors and, in concert with lycopene, hinder
the growth and spread of such tumors.

It's too soon, however, for men to start eating tomato paste in the
hopes of thwarting prostate cancer.

"The most important next step would be conducting trials on humans,"
Mossine said. Further lab work, he added, could also shed light on
whether there are other compounds in dried vegetables or fruits that
"work along" with FruHis.

"In my opinion, this study will make the cancer research community
aware of a novel type of potential antioxidant and chemopreventive
agent that may arise as a result of food processing," Mossine said.

"Hopefully, it will help to attract more attention and support to the
prostate cancer prevention research area."

SOURCE: Cancer Research, June 1, 2008.

Copyright © 2008 Reuters Limited

Article Link:
http://www.reutershealth.com/archive...09elin005.html