Lycopene in the Promotion of Lung Function Against Obstructive Lung Functioning

By Kyle J. Norton

The lungs formed part of the respiratory system are a pair of spongy, air-filled organs located on either side of the chest with the main function to process of gas exchange during breathing.

In other words, lung transfer life-giving oxygen into the blood supply and remove carbon dioxide produced by cells metabolism from the blood.

Additionally, the lung is also the first-line defense against inhaled particles and prevent the circulation of emboli such as blood clot (thrombus), a fat globule (fat embolism), a bubble of air or other gas (gas embolism), or foreign material.

Additonally, the lung also processes other ability of
* Balancing the pH levels, the lung protects the body against the accumulation of too much carbon dioxide. High levels of carbon dioxide are known to induce acidity in the body. 

* Removing small blood clots the lung protects the body against the forming air embolisms.

* Protecting lung infection through the secretion of immunoglobulin A.

Any part of the lung injury can reduce the lung function, leading to either obstructive or restrictive lung diseases or mixed lung disease, depending on a person's breathing.

Obstructive lung diseases are the condition in which the lungs are unable to expel air properly during exhalation. Diseases associated with obstruction lung diseases such as asthma, bronchiectasis, COPD, and emphysema.

Besides smoking, second-hand smoke is the most common cause of obstructive lung disease. Dr.Mark D. Eisner said, "Secondhand smoke (SHS) has been extensively studied as a risk factor for obstructive lung disease, including decreased lung function, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (1–5)".

And, "Epidemiologic studies have played a key role in evaluating the respiratory health effects of SHS because they are the only feasible method for studying the impact of exposure, as it occurs naturally, on large numbers of the subject".

Lycopene is a phytochemical found in tomato 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.

On finding a potential compound for the treatment of lung disease researchers examined the prospective associations between concentrations of α- and β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, lutein/zeaxanthin, lycopene, Se, vitamin C, and α-tocopherol and all-cause mortality among US adults with obstructive lung function.

The study included a total of 1492 adults aged 20-79 years with obstructive lung function in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III (1988-94) that cause 629 deaths during a median follow-up period of 14 years.

α-carotene (P= 0·037); β-carotene (P= 0·022); cryptoxanthin (P= 0·022); lutein/zeaxanthin (P= 0·004); total carotenoids (P= 0·001) vitamin C (P< 0·001) concentration were invesely associated with all-cause mortality among adults with obstructive lung function.

However, in maximally adjusted models, only the concentrations of lycopene (P= 0·013) and vitamin C (P= 0·046) were found to be significantly and inversely associated with all-cause mortality comapred to other tested antioxidants.

Additionally, lutein/zeaxanthin concentrations and all-cause mortality varied by smoking status were associated between lutein/zeaxanthin concentrations.

Based on the findings, researchers said, "The concentrations of lycopene and vitamin C were inversely associated with all-cause mortality in this cohort of adults with obstructive lung function".

Taken altogether, lycopene found in tomato may be considered a remedy for the improvement of obstructive lung function, 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.

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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) Associations between antioxidants and all-cause mortality among US adults with obstructive lung function by Ford ES1, Li C2, Cunningham TJ1, Croft JB. (PubMed)
(2) Secondhand Smoke and Obstructive Lung Disease, A Causal Effect? by Mark D. Eisner. (ATS Journals)