Oxidative stress and postmenopausal osteoporosis: Clinical study on the role of the antioxidant lycopene

Lycopene is an antioxidant known to counteract the damage caused by oxidative stress due to reactive oxygen species (ROS). Although demonstrated to be beneficial in reducing age-related chronic diseases, the role of lycopene in osteoporosis has not yet been investigated.; Thirty-three recruited postmenopausal women aged 50-60 submitted seven-day dietary records and gave fasting blood samples. Antioxidant capacity, oxidative stress and bone turnover markers were analyzed in the serum. Dietary records were analyzed for intake of lycopene and other antioxidants. Dietary lycopene was significantly correlated with serum lycopene. High lycopene was significantly associated with decreased protein oxidation (p<0.05) and the bone resorption marker cross-linked N-telopeptides of type I collagen (NTx) (p<0.005). Lycopene and vitamin C were found to have a synergistic effect on NTx (p<0.05). These results indicate that dietary lycopene acts as an antioxidant to reduce oxidative stress and bone turnover, thus reducing the risk of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.