Dietary uptake of lycopene protects human cells from singlet oxygen and nitrogen dioxide – ROS components from cigarette smoke

There is current interest in the health benefits of dietary carotenoids and the possible deleterious effects on certain sub-populations such as smokers. Here we report in vivo protection of human lymphocytes, conferred by dietary supplementation of lycopene rich foods against the reactive oxygen species, NO2. radical (by electron transfer) and 1O2 (by energy transfer). It was found that a lycopene rich diet, maintained for 14 days, increased the serum lycopene level 10 fold compared to serum obtained after the same period, where a typical western European diet had been consumed. Relative lymphocyte protection factors of 17.6 and 6.3 against NO2. radical and 1O2, respectively, were obtained, which re-enforce epidemiological data, showing protection against several chronic diseases by tomato lycopene.