Lycopene

Commonly used for

Heart HealthHealthy Aging

What is it? / Overview

Lycopene is a carotenoid antioxidant. Higher dietary lycopene intake and blood levels are associated with lower prostate cancer risk in observational studies -- this is an association, not proof that supplementation prevents cancer -- and lycopene may help reduce LDL oxidation, a step relevant to atherosclerosis.

How is it used? / Administration

Form: Lycopene from tomato extract (softgel), standardized to 5-20% lycopene

Typical dose studied: 10-20 mg/day

Timing: With a fat-containing meal -- lycopene is fat-soluble, and cooked/processed tomato products also improve its bioavailability

Evidence for lycopene supplementation preventing cardiovascular events, cancer, or extending lifespan comes mainly from observational data, not large controlled trials with hard clinical endpoints -- worth using with realistic expectations even though the biology is genuinely promising.

How well does it work? / Evidence

~ Moderate evidence

Who should avoid it?

Already taking it? No well-established clinically important drug interactions at typical dietary or supplement doses. Very high, chronic intake can cause lycopenemia (carotenodermia) -- a benign, reversible orange-tinged skin discoloration, not a safety concern.

Research & references

Giovannucci E, et al. Tomato products, lycopene, and prostate cancer risk. J Natl Cancer Inst. Rao AV, Agarwal S. Role of lycopene as antioxidant carotenoid in the prevention of chronic diseases. Borel P, Desmarchelier C. (2018). Bioavailability of fat-soluble vitamins and phytochemicals in humans: effects of genetic variation. Annual Review of Nutrition, 38, 69-96.