Bioavailability of Lycopene from Tomato Products

Tomatoes and tomato products are the major source of lycopene in the diet. The bioavailability of lycopene is different in raw tomatoes compared to processed tomato products. This is due to the chemical and physical properties of the different lycopene isomers. All-trans-lycopene is found in raw tomatoes and is a poor bioavailable source, whereas, processed tomato products are more bioavailable because they contain more cis-isomers. Heat and mechanical processing of tomatoes induces rupture of the cell walls, thereby releasing lycopene from its food matrix. Heat processing also induces cis-trans isomerization and disrupts protein-carotenoid complexes. Many dietary components also impact lycopene bioavailability, like the amount and type of fat present with the intake and processing of tomato products, the amount and type of fiber present, and the interaction between carotenoids. Fundamentally, anything that enhances formation and incorporation of lycopene in bile acid micelles increases bioavailability, and the opposite is true in that anything that interferes with micelle formation decreases bioavailability.