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Lycopene is a type of organic pigment called a carotenoid. It is related to beta-carotene and gives some vegetables and fruits (e.g., tomatoes) a red color.
Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant that might help protect cells from damage. It's found in tomato, watermelon, red orange, pink grapefruit, apricot, rose hip, and guava.
Lycopene is used for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, cancer, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support most of these uses.
- Prostate cancer. Early findings suggests that oral lycopene might have a small benefit in preventing the development or recurrence of prostate cancer.
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- Bladder cancer. Dietary lycopene does not seem to affect the risk of bladder cancer.
Login for details - Diabetes. Dietary lycopene does not seem to affect the risk of diabetes.
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- Age-related macular degeneration (AMD). It is unclear if oral lycopene is beneficial in patients with AMD; the available evidence is conflicting.
Login for details - Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, Lou Gehrig's disease). It is unclear if dietary lycopene helps to prevent ALS.
Login for details - Asthma. It is unclear if oral lycopene reduces asthma exacerbations.
Login for details - Atherosclerosis. It is unclear if oral lycopene is beneficial in patients with atherosclerosis.
Login for details - Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Small studies suggest that lycopene products might improve BPH symptoms.
Login for details - Brain tumor. It is unclear if oral lycopene is beneficial for various types of brain tumor.
Login for details - Breast cancer. It is unclear if oral lycopene reduces the risk of breast cancer.
Login for details - Cardiovascular disease (CVD). It is unclear if oral lycopene reduces the risk of CVD.
Login for details - Cataracts. It is unclear if oral lycopene is beneficial for reducing the risk of cataracts.
Login for details - Cervical cancer. It is unclear if oral lycopene reduces the risk of cervical cancer.
Login for details - Chronic prostatitis and chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS). Oral lycopene has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effect when used alone is unclear.
Login for details - Cognitive function. It is unclear if oral lycopene is beneficial for improving cognitive function and memory.
Login for details - Colorectal cancer. It is unclear if lycopene reduces the risk for colorectal cancer; the available research is conflicting.
Login for details - Esophageal cancer. It is unclear if oral lycopene is beneficial for preventing esophageal cancer.
Login for details - Exercise-induced asthma. It is unclear if oral lycopene is beneficial for preventing exacerbations of exercise-induced asthma.
Login for details - Exercise-induced muscle damage. Oral lycopene has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effect when used alone is unclear.
Login for details - Gingivitis. Small studies suggest that ingesting or injecting oral lycopene products might improve gingivitis.
Login for details - Helicobacter pylori. It is unclear if oral lycopene helps to eradicate H. pylori.
Login for details - Human papillomavirus (HPV). It is unclear if oral lycopene is beneficial in patients with HPV.
Login for details - Hyperlipidemia. While some small studies suggest that lower doses of lycopene are not beneficial, taking oral lycopene in doses of greater than 20 mg daily might reduce lipid levels in patients with hyperlipidemia.
Login for details - Hypertension. Small clinical studies suggest that some lycopene products might reduce blood pressure in patients with hypertension. However, lycopene does not seem to reduce the risk for hypertension.
Login for details - Lung cancer. It is unclear if oral lycopene is beneficial in patients with lung cancer.
Login for details - Male infertility. It is unclear if oral lycopene is beneficial in male patients with infertility.
Login for details - Melasma. Topical lycopene has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effect when used alone is unclear.
Login for details - Menopausal symptoms. Oral lycopene has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effect when used alone is unclear.
Login for details - Obesity. It is unclear if a diet high in lycopene helps to reduce weight.
Login for details - Oral leukoplakia. It is unclear if oral lycopene is beneficial in patients with oral leukoplakia.
Login for details - Oral submucous fibrosis. Small studies suggest that oral lycopene might slightly improve mouth opening in patients with oral submucous fibrosis. It is unclear if lycopene reduces pain or burning sensation.
Login for details - Ovarian cancer. It is unclear if oral lycopene reduces the risk of ovarian cancer.
Login for details - Pancreatic cancer. It is unclear if oral lycopene helps to prevent pancreatic cancer.
Login for details - Parkinson disease. It is unclear if oral lycopene helps to prevent Parkinson disease.
Login for details - Polymorphous light eruption (PMLE). Oral lycopene has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effect when used alone is unclear.
Login for details - Pre-eclampsia. It is unclear if oral lycopene is beneficial in patients with pre-eclampsia.
Login for details - Renal cell carcinoma. It is unclear if oral lycopene reduces the risk for renal cell carcinoma.
Login for details - Sunburn. Small studies suggest that consuming tomato paste with oral lycopene might prevent sunburn.
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When taken by mouth: Lycopene is commonly consumed in certain fruits and vegetables. When taken in supplements, doses of 15-45 mg daily have been safely used for up to 6 months.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Lycopene is likely safe during pregnancy and breast-feeding when eaten in typical food amounts. There isn't enough reliable information to know if lycopene supplements are safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and stick to food amounts.Surgery: Lycopene might slow blood clotting. It might increase the risk of bleeding during and after surgery. Stop using lycopene supplements at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
There are no known interactions with medications. Before taking this product, talk with your health professional if you take any medications.
Beta-carotene: Taking beta-carotene along with lycopene may alter the amount of lycopene that is absorbed from the gut.
Calcium: Taking calcium along with lycopene may decrease the amount of lycopene that is absorbed from the gut.
Herbs and supplements that might slow blood clotting: Lycopene might slow blood clotting and increase the risk of bleeding. Taking it with other supplements with similar effects might increase the risk of bleeding in some people. Examples of supplements with this effect include garlic, ginger, ginkgo, nattokinase, and Panax ginseng.
Lutein: Taking lutein along with lycopene may alter the amount of lycopene that is absorbed from the gut.
There are no known interactions with foods.
Lycopene is commonly found in many fruits and vegetables, but particularly in tomato products, including fresh tomatoes, tomato sauce, ketchup, and tomato juice. A 130 gram serving of fresh tomatoes contains 4-10 mg of lycopene. Ketchup contains 3.3 mg per tablespoon.
Lycopene supplements are also available. Lycopene has most often been used by adults in doses of 15-45 mg by mouth daily for up to 6 months. Speak with a healthcare provider to find out what dose might be best for a specific condition.
All-Trans Lycopene, All-Trans Lycopène, Cis-Lycopène, Licopeno, Lycopène, Lycopenes, Lycopènes, Psi-Psi-Carotene, Psi-Psi-Carotène, (6E,8E,10E,12E,14E,16E,18E,20E,22E,24E,26E)-2,6,10,14,19,23,27,31-octamethyldotriaconta-2,6,8,10,12,14,16,18,20,22,24,26,30-tridecaene.
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