We conducted a study to investigate if
lycopene could reduce gastrointestinal toxicity of abdominal and pelvic radiation in Wistar albino rats. Animals received either a control diet (Group 1),
lycopene-supplemented diet (Group 2), control diet and radiation (Group 3), and
lycopene-supplemented diet plus radiation (Group 4). In Groups 2 and 4, the rats received 5 mg/kg/day
lycopene for 10 days. In Groups 3 and 4, the rats received single fraction 8 Gy abdominal and pelvic radiation (RT) on Day 10. Study endpoints included
weight loss,
diarrhea, duration of
diarrhea, survival, and an oxidative stress marker, plasma level of
thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (
TBARS). The rats receiving RT only had significantly higher
weight loss rate compared to the
lycopene plus RT group (P = 0.001). Plasma
TBARS levels after RT were also significantly higher in the RT only group compared to
lycopene plus RT group (P = 0.001). In conclusion,
lycopene supplementation significantly reduced the
weight loss and prevented oxidative stress in rats treated with abdominopelvic radiation.