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Victory Nutrition premium Lyc-O-Mato® Lycopene
800-969-6199
What is Lycopene?
You may be familiar with beta-caratene, a vitamin A precursor, known as an antioxidant, that is essential for vision, immune function and skin health. Beta-caratene belongs to carotenoids which are phytochemicals and give fruits and vegetables their colorful appearance. Lycopene is also a member of the carotenoid family. Its chemical structure is similar to that of beta-carotene, but has 2 more double bands and open rings which makes it a more powerful antioxidant.
Physiological Functions of Lycopene
Together with other antioxidants such as Vitamin E, Vitamin C, and selenium, carotenoids play an important role in the body's defense against free radicals. Free radicals are unstable compounds that have unpaired electrons and are produced in our body during cellular metabolism. They attack other stable molecules and damage normal cells. The consequences of this cellular damage over time are the occurrence of cancer, cardiovascular disease, arthritis, cataract and accelerated aging. Compared with beta-carotene, alpha-carotene and other carotenoids that have been studied so far, lycopene is the most powerful antioxidant in quenching free radicals (Levy et al, 1995; Mascio et al, 1989). In studying skin exposed to UV light, scientists have found that lycopene was prefered over beta-carotene in protecting skin tissue from oxidative damage in human subjects (Ribaya-Mercado et al, 1995). When adding lycopene to an animal diet, mammary tumor development in mice was suppressed markedly compared with controls (Nagasawa et al, 1995). Lycopene status is also associatted with improved daily functions in elderly (Snowdon et al, 1996) and decreased risk for cancer (Franceschi et al, 1994; Gerster, 1993). Its antioxidant power also protects the cardiovascular sytem from free radical damage.
Carotenoid & Antioxidant Status
Antioxidant status is influenced by a variety of factors, including dietary intake, stress levels, daily activities, health conditions and more. People who tend to have low antioxidant status are: smokers, dieters, or people who eat few fruits and vegetables, elderly, people who exercise regularly and spend a lot of time outdoors (main reason it is in this catalog), or those with compromised health. Supplementing carotenoids and other antioxidants would be indicated in these people.
Lycopene in Proliposomal Form
Victory Nutrition Lycopene is in a Pro-Liposome Delivery System (PLDS), a patented emulsion of phospholipids. PLDS was developed to insure maximum bioavailability and utilization of nutrients by the body. Lycopene and other carotenoids are fat soluble antioxidants, that is, they need to be taken with fat to form micelles for absorbtion. Lycopene in a proliposomal form is water soluble and can be absorbed without the need for fat as a carrier.
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