Tomato juice and osteoporosis

Tomatoes have especially high
levels of lycopene

Tomato juice and osteoporosis - Health News - NHS Choices
“Two glasses of tomato juice a day strengthens bones and can ward off osteoporosis,” The Daily Telegraph reported. It said scientists have found that an ingredient in the drink, called lycopene, slows down the breakdown of bone cells, protecting against the disease. This news story is based on a small pilot study that compared the effects of lycopene supplements and tomato juice on chemical signs of bone loss in postmenopausal women. Women taking lycopene from either juice or pills had lower levels of the chemical by-product associated with osteoporosis. The findings of this study highlight an avenue for further research. However, it is too soon to conclude that tomato juice will help fight bone disease. The researchers, though optimistic, make it clear that their study is a pilot and that larger studies that measure actual bone loss or fractures, rather than the signs of the disease, will provide better evidence.

Lycopene

crabsallover calculates '340mls a day of Heinz Canada Tomato Juice has 30mg Lycopene', an antioxidant (ψ,ψ-carotene)

crabsallover says 'Drinking tomato juice might reduce risk of osteoporosis especially if you are a post menopausal woman'

Lycopene is a symmetrical tetraterpene assembled from 8 isoprene C₅H₈ units. It is a member of the carotenoid family of compounds, and because it consists entirely of carbon and hydrogen C₄₀H₅₆, is also a carotene.

Fulltext 2010 research.
Earlier research research - Osteoporos Int (2007) 18:109–115

Oxidative stress induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS) is associated with the risk of osteoporosis, and can be reduced by certain dietary antioxidants. Lycopene is an antioxidant known to decrease the risk of
age-related chronic diseases, such as cancer. However, the role of lycopene in osteoporosis has not yet been
investigated. ... Cellular studies have shown that lycopene inhibited ROS production and the formation and activity of osteoclasts [10], and stimulated alkaline phosphatase activity in osteoblasts [11, 12]. These data, together with the known beneficial effects of antioxidants on age-related chronic diseases, strongly suggest that lycopene would be beneficial in reducing the risk of postmenopausal osteoporosis, owing to its potent antioxidant capacity.... Osteoporosis is a major metabolic bone disease characterized by low bone mass and deterioration of the microarchitecture of bone that results in an increased risk of fracture [1]. Postmenopausal osteoporosis occurs primarily among women over the age of 50 because of the loss of estrogen at menopause. High levels of bone turnover markers predict bone loss and the risk of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women [2]. There is an overall marked increase in bone turnover postmenopause, with resorption exceeding formation [3, 4]. Thus, estrogen deficiency associated with menopause can increase the loss of trabecular bone by as much as 5% per year, in so called fast bone losers [5, 6].