ABSTRACT
In the Western diet, lycopene is the most consumed carotenoid as well as the most abundant human plasma. Most lycopene consumed is from tomato products, though watermelon, pink grapefruit, guava, and papaya contain lycopene as well. Lycopene can be isomerized by heat processing to a sauce enriched in cis-isomers, which also has increased bioavailability over a less processed tomato sauce. The bioavailability of lycopene from a single dose is determined by calculating the percentage of an administered dose that reaches circulation in the blood, often in the triglyceride-rich lipoprotein fraction, mainly composed of chylomicrons. Lycopene content is highly dependent on fruit ripeness. In addition to activation of immune cells, inflammatory stimuli induce release of various chemical mediators, including cytokines and reactive oxygen species, that promote leukocyte recruitment to areas of injury to eliminate pathogens and/or repair damaged tissue. Inflammation is an adaptive response triggered by noxious stimuli and conditions such as chemical or physical injury.
