Phytochemical Lycopene Protects the Bone Density Against Osteoclastogenesis (Bone Resorption)

By Kyle J. Norton

The osteoclast is a type of cell differentiated from another type of cell called a macrophage that breaks down the bone that leads to bone resorption.

In patients with osteoporosis, this balance shifts in favor of osteoclasts compared to those of osteoblasts.

In other words, in osteoporotic patients, bone resorption is far more exceedingly to bone formation.

Furthermore, the imbalance of osteoclasts and osteoblast also is found in patients with Paget's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, osteopetrosis, periodontal disease, and bone cancer metastases.

Osteoclastogenesis is a procedure included many stages, that interfers the specific stage of the process, diseases associated with imbalanced osteoclasts and osteoblast that may be preventable in the future.

Dr. Tobias Braun wrote, "Bone loss in RA patients is a frequent and clinically serious event. Considering bone remodeling in general, the balance between bone formation and bone resorption determines the net effect. In the past decade, significant gains in knowledge about the role of bone resorption during chronic erosive arthritis have been made. There is good evidence that inflammation itself triggers bone resorption by osteoclasts ".

And, "Pro-inflammatory cytokines are potent mediators of bone loss. These cytokines act both, directly and indirectly, to enhance osteoclastogenesis in the inflamed joint and systemic bone: first, many pro-inflammatory cytokines can alter the RANKL/OPG ratio in mesenchymal cells, such as osteoblasts and fibroblasts; second, some cytokines, such as M-CSF and RANKL, also directly affect osteoclast differentiation, survival, and activity".

Lycopene is a phytochemical in the class of carotenoid, a natural pigment with no vitamin A activity found abundantly in tomatoes and other red fruits and vegetables, such as red carrots, watermelons, and papayas,

Tomatoes provide about 80% of the lycopene in the world diet. In plants, lycopene protects the host against excessive photodamage and perform various functions in photosynthesis.

With an aim to find a potential phytochemical to protect the bone density, researchers examined the osteoclastogenetic effect of lycopene.

According to the tested differentiation
* The ingestion of lycopene-containing products such as tomato showed a significant effect on decreased osteoclast differentiation. In other words, lycopene protected the bone density by inhibiting the bone reabsorption.

* Lycopene not only did not affect cell density/survival but also protected the bone by decreasing the calcium-phosphate resorption.

* Lycopene also acted as MEK signaling inhibitors to promote bone formation.

* Additionally, lycopene also promoted an anabolic state of bone metabolism, through the regulation of the protein kinase C pathway associated with osteoclast formation and function potentially.

Based on the findings, lycopene protects bone mineral density by inhibiting the expression of osteoclastogenesis.

Researchers after taking into account of co and confounders said, "This information might be relevant for the prevention and delay in the progression of osteolytic bone conditions".

Taken altogether, lycopene found in tomato may be considered supplements for the promotion of osteoclastogenesis,  pending on the confirmation of the larger sample size and multicenter human study.

Intake of lycopene in the form of supplement should be taken with extreme care to prevent overdose acute liver toxicity.

Natural Medicine for Fatty Liver And Obesity Reversal - The Revolutionary Findings To Achieve Optimal Health And Lose Weight

How To Get Rid Of Eye Floaters 
Contrary To Professionals Prediction, Floaters Can Be Cured Naturally 

Ovarian Cysts And PCOS Elimination
Holistic System In Existence That Will Show You How To
Permanently Eliminate All Types of Ovarian Cysts Within 2 Months

Back to Kyle J. Norton Homepage http://kylejnorton.blogspot.ca


Author Biography
Kyle J. Norton (Scholar, Master of Nutrition, All right reserved)
Health article writer and researcher; Over 10.000 articles and research papers have been written and published online, including worldwide health, ezine articles, article base, health blogs, self-growth, best before it's news, the karate GB daily, etc.,.
Named TOP 50 MEDICAL ESSAYS FOR ARTISTS & AUTHORS TO READ by Disilgold.com Named 50 of the best health Tweeters Canada - Huffington Post
Nominated for shorty award over last 4 years
Some articles have been used as references in medical research, such as international journal Pharma and Bioscience, ISSN 0975-6299.

Sources
(1) Modulation of human osteoclastogenesis and osteoblastogenesis by lycopene by Costa-Rodrigues J1, Fernandes MH2, Pinho O3, Monteiro PRR. (PubMed)
(2) Lycopene treatment against loss of bone mass, microarchitecture and strength in relation to regulatory mechanisms in a postmenopausal osteoporosis model by Ardawi MM1, Badawoud MH2, Hassan SM2, Rouzi AA3, Ardawi JMS4, AlNosani NM4, Qari MH5, Mousa SA6. (PubMed)
(3) Positive regulators of osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption in rheumatoid arthritis by Tobias Braun1 and Jochen Zwerina. (PMC)