Tomatoes and breast cancer risk-reduction

You have probably heard that tomatoes are good for your eyes because of an antioxidant called lycopene. Did you know that tomatoes can make a difference with breast cancer risk? The reviewed research investigated just that (Llanos AA, et.al.,2014).

70 postmenopausal women at increased risk for breast cancer participated in the study. Their average age was 57.2 years. First they consumed a tomato-based diet which included at least 25 mg of lycopene daily for 10 weeks, and later they consumed a soy-based diet for 10 weeks which included at least 40 g of soy protein daily. The women were also tested for adiponectin and two other hormones.

Other research has documented a decreased risk for several types of cancers, including breast cancer when adiponectin is increasing(Kishida K, et. Al., 2014).

When the subjects consumed the tomato-based diet, it was found that the adiponectin concentration increased. This indicates that tomato-based food is especially beneficial for women who are at higher risk for postmenopausal breast cancer. Don’t forget that tomatoes are beneficial for other things - especially your eyes!

Llanos AA1, Peng J, Pennell ML, Krok JL, Vitolins MZ, Degraffinreid CR, Paskett ED. Effects of tomato and soy on serum adipokine concentrations in postmenopausal women at increased breast cancer risk: a cross-over dietary intervention trial. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2014 Feb;99(2):625-32. doi: 10.1210/jc.2013-3222. Epub 2014 Jan 1.

Kishida K1, Funahashi T2, Shimomura I3. Adiponectin as a routine clinical biomarker. Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2014 Jan;28(1):119-30. doi: 10.1016/j.beem.2013.08.006. Epub 2013 Aug 20.

Published with permission by Didrik Sopler, Ph.D., L.Ac : www.TissueRecovery.com Dr. Marsh has worked with and referrers patients to Dr. Sopler for co-management for years . . . He is quite simply San Diego's top functional medicine consultant.