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Effects of a high monounsaturated fat, tomato-rich diet on serum levels of lycopene

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 57, pages 832–841 (2003)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective: To compare the effect of a modified fat, monounsaturated-fat-enriched diet and a high-carbohydrate low-fat diet with high lycopene content on the serum concentration of lycopene and other carotenoids.

Design: A randomised crossover dietary intervention study.

Setting:Melbourne, Australia — Healthy free-living men.

Subjects: A total of 13 healthy males between the age of 20 and 70 y, recruited via advertisements in newspapers and university newsletter.

Intervention: A randomised dietary intervention with two diets of 14 days each. The two diets were — (1) high-fat monounsaturated-fat-enriched (MUFA) and (2) high-carbohydrate low-fat (HCLF). Both the diets contained the same basic foods and a controlled carotenoid content high in lycopene.

Results: A significant increase in serum total lycopene occurred, by 126% on the MUFA diet (P<0.001) and 108% on the HCLF diet (P=0.001). A reduction in serum cryptoxanthin (27% on MUFA diet and 25% on HCLF) and alpha-carotene (43% on the MUFA diet and 25% on the HCLF diet) was observed. No change was observed for the other carotenoids. Comparing the end of the two diets, no statistically significant difference was observed for lycopene or the other carotenoids.

Conclusion: In all, 15% of energy from fat or 38% of energy from fat (predominantly monounsaturated fat) in the diet does not have a significant differential effect on serum lycopene.

Sponsorship: The study was partially funded by the Grains Research Development Corporation, Canberra and Meadow Lea Foods Ltd, Mascot, Australia. HJ Heinz, Melbourne, Australia provided the tomato products and some funds for their carotenoid analysis.

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Acknowledgements

Dr Su Qing for performing the biochemical analysis of carotenoids.

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  1. School of Human Life Sciences, University of Tasmania, Launceston, TAS, Australia

    K D K Ahuja, E L Ashton & M J Ball

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Guarantor: M Ball

Contributors: KA was involved in the design, subject recruitment, conduct of the study, dietary and laboratory analysis, statistical analyses and writing of the paper. EA was involved in the day-to-day running and laboratory analysis of the study. MB was involved in the design of the study, supervision of the running of the study and writing of the paper.

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Ahuja, K., Ashton, E. & Ball, M. Effects of a high monounsaturated fat, tomato-rich diet on serum levels of lycopene. Eur J Clin Nutr 57, 832–841 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601617

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