Overview

Lycopene is a naturally occurring chemical that gives fruits and vegetables a red color. It is one of a number of pigments called carotenoids. Lycopene is found in tomatoes, watermelons, red oranges, pink grapefruits, apricots, rosehips, and guavas. In North America, 85% of dietary lycopene comes from tomato products such as ketchup, tomato juice, sauce, or paste. A serving of fresh tomatoes contains between 4 mg and 10 mg of lycopene, while one cup (240 mL) of tomato juice provides about 20 mg. Processing raw tomatoes using heat (in the making of tomato juice, tomato paste or ketchup, for example) actually changes the lycopene in the raw product into a form that is easier for the body to use. The lycopene in supplements is about as easy for the body to use as lycopene found in food.

Lycopene is used for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, cancer, and many other conditions but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

Classification

Is a Form of:

Chemical

Primary Functions:

High blood pressure, high cholesterol, cancer

Also Known As:

Licopeno, Lycopène, Lycopenes

How Does It Work?

Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant that may help protect cells from damage. This is why there is a lot of research interest in lycopene's role, if any, in preventing cancer.

Uses

• Bladder cancer. People who get more lycopene in their diet don't seem to have a lower risk for bladder cancer.
• Diabetes. People who get more lycopene in their diet don't seem to have a lower risk of developing diabetes.
• Parkinson disease. People who get more lycopene in their diet don't seem to have a lower risk of Parkinson disease.

Recommended Dosing

The appropriate dose of lycopene depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for lycopene. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.

Lycopene Supplements Frequently Asked Questions

What is Lycopene supplements good for?

Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant with many health benefits, including sun protection, improved heart health and a lower risk of certain types of cancer. Though it can be found as a supplement, it may be most effective when consumed from lycopene-rich foods like tomatoes and other red or pink fruits.

Are lycopene supplements effective?

Supplements Do Not Equal Food

Lycopene SEEMS to protect against cancer. But, remember that there is only an ASSOCIATION between lycopene in the diet and lower risk of cancer. This is a very weak link. There have been NO studies to prove that lycopene itself is the factor decreasing cancer risk.

Why is lycopene bad for you?

Eating excessive amounts of lycopene could lead to a condition called lycopenemia, which is an orange or red discoloration of the skin. The condition itself is harmless and goes away by eating a diet lower in lycopene.

When should I take lycopene supplement?

Some research shows that taking a specific lycopene supplement twice daily starting between weeks 16 and 20 of pregnancy and continuing until delivery lowers blood pressure and reduces associated complications. However, other research suggests that lycopene does not affect blood pressure during pregnancy.

What happens if you have too much lycopene?

Health risks

If you eat an abundance of the fruit daily, however, you may experience problems from having too much lycopene or potassium. The consumption of more than 30 mg of lycopene daily could potentially cause nausea, diarrhea, indigestion and bloating, according to the American Cancer Society.

What are the side effects of lycopene?

Possible Side Effects

When consumed in foods, lycopene is safe to eat for everyone. Eating excessive amounts of lycopene could lead to a condition called lycopenemia, which is an orange or red discoloration of the skin. The condition itself is harmless and goes away by eating a diet lower in lycopene.

What fruit has the most lycopene?

Foods Containing Lycopene. Lycopene makes tomatoes red and gives other orangey fruits and vegetables their color. Processed tomatoes have the highest amounts of lycopene, but watermelon, pink grapefruit, and fresh tomatoes are also good sources.

Does lycopene increase testosterone?

Some evidence suggests that tomato or lycopene intake may modulate testosterone production, serum concentrations, and metabolism, and may impact gene expression in human prostate cancer cells, normal rat prostate, and established prostate cancer xenografts (7–10).

Is lycopene a blood thinner?

Lycopene is FDA-approved for use as an additive in foods and beverages. It can also be found in a concentrated and isolated form in dietary supplements. However, lycopene supplements should not be used in people taking blood thinners or blood-pressure lowering medications since lycopene can alter their effectiveness.

What are the 5 things you should never eat?

5 Foods You Should Never Eat

• Artificial Sweeteners. In small doses (think: one teaspoon per serving), sugar is totally fine.
• Most of us think it's a healthy alternative to butter (err, guilty), but margarine has loads of trans fats, which increase your cholesterol. ...
• Soy Protein Isolate.
• Diet Foods.
• Frozen Meal

Can you eat too much lycopene?

Health risks

If you eat an abundance of the fruit daily, however, you may experience problems from having too much lycopene or potassium. The consumption of more than 30 mg of lycopene daily could potentially cause nausea, diarrhea, indigestion and bloating, according to the American Cancer Society.

Is lycopene anti inflammatory?

Lycopene has been reported to exert anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects and is known to prevent chronic vascular diseases and cancer

Is lycopene good for your prostate?

Lycopene, a carotenoid found in high quantities in tomatoes and tomato-rich products, has been explored in relation to the prevention and treatment of various kinds of cancers. High lycopene intake or high plasma lycopene concentrations have been associated with a lower risk of prostate cancer.

Is lycopene bad for arthritis?

It's also high in the carotenoid beta-cryptoxanthin, which can reduce the risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It's also packed with lycopene, an antioxidant that may help protect against certain cancers and lower heart attack risk, says Dulan.

How much lycopene should I take for prostate?

The ideal dosage of lycopene and the optimum dosage formulation are not known. Dosages from 10 mg once daily to 15 mg twice daily have been studied in patients with prostate cancer; both have been associated with improvement. Current information suggests that as little as 6 mg per day may be useful for prevention.

How much lycopene should I take a day?

The ideal dosage of lycopene and the optimum dosage formulation are not known. Dosages from 10 mg once daily to 15 mg twice daily have been studied in patients with prostate cancer; both have been associated with improvement. Current information suggests that as little as 6 mg per day may be useful for prevention.

Is lycopene bad for kidneys?

Lycopene could be considered as the most effective antioxidant among the carotenoids. Lycopene and vitamin C have been shown to have an influence on the biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation. Low plasma levels of lycopene and analgesic consumption may increase more the risk of CKD.

Does lycopene lower blood pressure?

Lycopene Reduces Blood Pressure. Clinical research conducted at Ben-Gurion University, Israel shows that lycopene complex, a tomato extract, reduces blood pressure in patients with mild to moderate hypertension. Results showed that natural tomato extract helps reduce systolic blood pressure.

What fruits have lycopene in them?

High lycopene foods include guavas, cooked tomatoes, watermelon, grapefruit, papaya, sweet red peppers, persimmon, asparagus, red cabbage, and mangos.

Do bananas have lycopene?

Bananas were fourth in accumulated lycopene (31.189±0.001mg/kg). An important example of fruits high in lycopene is watermelons. Lycopene is a significant and healthy antioxidant which measured in fruits their red colored and is thought to prevent cancer and heart disease.

Do carrots have lycopene?

One cup of carrot juice has 5 μg of lycopene. Carrots are also a top source of Vitamin A and beta carotene, making them a true superfood.

Do Sweet potatoes contain lycopene?

Other carotenoids such as lycopene are rich in tomatoes. Carotenoids are found in many fruits and vegetables, such as carrots, yellow sweet potatoes, yellow sweet cassava and pumpkins, among other plant materials.

Is lycopene good for the heart?

Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant with many health benefits, including sun protection, improved heart health and a lower risk of certain types of cancer. Though it can be found as a supplement, it may be most effective when consumed from lycopene-rich foods like tomatoes and other red or pink fruits.

Clinical Studies