Eating a tomato-rich diet may reduce postmenopausal
women's breast cancer risk, according to a new study.
Researchers at Rutgers University tested tomato-heavy
vs. soy-heavy diets on 70 postmenopausal women.
For the first 10 weeks, the women ate a diet full of
tomatoes and tomato-based products. They had to
consume a minimum of 25 mg of lycopene a day, an
antioxidant found in tomatoes and some other fruits
and vegetables. For the next 10 weeks, they had to
eat at least 40 grams of soy protein a day. They
were
asked to refrain from eating any tomato or soy
products two weeks prior to the study.
The scientists found that the women showed a 9%
increase in adiponectin levels after following the
tomato-heavy diet for 10 weeks. Adiponectin is a fat-
and blood sugar-regulating hormone. (The risk for
breast cancer increases in postmenopausal women
along with their body mass index.) The effect was
more prominent in women who had a lower BMI to
begin with.
The soy-heavy diet actually led to a reduction in
adiponectin levels. Low levels are linked to increased
risk of obesity and insulin resistance and, thus,
increased breast cancer risk.
Lead researcher Adana Llanos said that the
advantages of eating a tomato-rich diet are clear,
even if it is only for a short period.
"Eating fruits and vegetables, which are rich in
essential nutrients, vitamins, minerals and
phytochemicals such as lycopene, conveys significant
benefits," she said, according to Medical News Today .
"Based on this data, we believe regular consumption
of at least the daily recommended servings of fruits
and vegetables would promote breast cancer
prevention in an at-risk population."
The study was published in the Journal of Clinical
Endocrinology and Metabolism .
Previous studies have linked tomato consumption to
reductions in the risk for stroke and prostate cancer.
According to the National Cancer Institute, women in
the United States have a 12% risk of developing
breast cancer at some point in their lives. This risk
increases with age.

SOURCE
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