Lycopene: benefits, dosage, contraindications
Scientific name(s)
Psi-Psi-Carotene
Family or group:
Plant substances
Indications
Scoring methodology
EFSA approval.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia ✪✪✪✪✪
Although some epidemiological data show no link between dietary lycopene intake and the development of BPH, some preliminary clinical research suggests that taking lycopene alone or in combination could improve BPH-related symptoms. nnA preliminary clinical study shows that taking lycopene at 15 mg per day for 6 months slows the progression of BPH. The consumption of 50 grams of tomato concentrate per day for 10 weeks reduced prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels by about 11% in patients with BPH in another study. nnOther clinical research shows that taking a combination of lycopene 2.1 mg, pumpkin seed oil 160 mg, small-flowered willowherb 500 mg, pygeum 15 g and saw palmetto 660 mg once daily for 3 months reduced the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) by 36% versus 8% with placebo in patients with BPH. nnIn another study, daily oral intake of a combination of lycopene 5 mg, saw palmetto 320 mg and selenium 50 mcg for 1 year decreased the IPSS similarly to tamsulosin 0.4 mg per day (a medication prescribed to relieve symptoms due to prostate enlargement). The concomitant use of the supplement combination and tamsulosin resulted in a greater reduction in IPSS than taking tamsulosin or the supplements alone. nn
Posologie
Oral
5 - 15 mg
6 months
Men
Synergies
Effect of the consumption of tomato paste on plasma prostate-specific antigen levels in patients with benign prostate hyperplasia.
Intake of selected micronutrients and the risk of surgically treated benign prostatic hyperplasia: a case-control study from Italy
A phase II randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial investigating the efficacy and safety of ProstateEZE Max: a herbal medicine preparation for the management of symptoms of benign prostatic hypertrophy
Serenoa repens, lycopene and selenium versus tamsulosin for the treatment of LUTS/BPH. An Italian multicenter double-blind randomized study comparing single vs. combination therapy (PROCOMB trial)
Lycopene inhibits disease progression in patients with benign prostate hyperplasia
Effect of the consumption of tomato paste on plasma prostate-specific antigen levels in patients with benign prostate hyperplasia
Dyslipidemia ✪✪✪✪✪
Preliminary clinical research shows that taking a specific oral lycopene supplement, 4 mg per day for 6 months, reduces total cholesterol by 24% and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol by 15% and increases high-density lipoprotein (HDL) by 26% compared with baseline values in postmenopausal women. Other clinical research in Japanese patients with high cholesterol shows that consuming 50 grams of a semi-dried tomato containing 22.0-27.8 mg of lycopene per day for 12 weeks modestly reduces LDL cholesterol levels but does not affect HDL cholesterol levels, compared with consuming 50 grams of tomato without lycopene.
Posologie
Orally
4 mg
Adults
LycoRed as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy in lowering serum lipids and oxidative stress markers: a randomized controlled clinical trial
Tomato juice decreases LDL cholesterol levels and increases LDL resistance to oxidation
Effect of 12-Week Daily Intake of the High-Lycopene Tomato ( Solanum Lycopersicum), A Variety Named "PR-7", on Lipid Metabolism: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel-Group Study
High blood pressure ✪✪✪✪✪
Preliminary clinical research in hypertensive patients shows that taking 15 to 30 mg of lycopene per day for 6 to 8 weeks, as a specific tomato extract, appears to reduce systolic blood pressure by 7 to 13.5 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure by 4 to 6 mmHg compared with baseline values.
Posologie
Oral
15 - 30 mg
8 weeks
Adults
The effects of natural antioxidants from tomato extract in treated but uncontrolled hypertensive patients
Effect of Tomato Nutrient Complex on Blood Pressure: A Double Blind, Randomized Dose⁻Response Study
Cardiovascular diseases ✪✪✪✪✪
Most epidemiological research has shown that higher serum levels of lycopene and increased dietary intake of lycopene are associated with a modest reduction in the risk of adverse cardiovascular events, including a reduced incidence of coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, stroke, and mortality. However, intervention trial results show that lycopene does not significantly improve most cardiovascular disease risk factors. Indeed, a review of clinical research shows that daily oral intake of 4 to 30 mg of lycopene in addition to the usual diet does not improve diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, endothelial function, or inflammatory markers compared with the usual diet alone in healthy individuals. However, lycopene supplementation appears to reduce systolic blood pressure by about 6 mmHg.
Posologie
Orally
4 - 15 mg
Adults
Lycopene and tomato and risk of cardiovascular diseases: A systematic review and meta-analysis of epidemiological evidence
Lycopene and myocardial infarction risk in the EURAMIC Study
Tomato and lycopene supplementation and cardiovascular risk factors: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Lycopene and myocardial infarction risk in the EURAMIC Study.
Antioxidant state and mortality from coronary heart disease in Lithuanian and Swedish men: concomitant cross sectional study of men aged 50.
Plasma lycopene, other carotenoids, and retinol and the risk of cardiovascular disease in women.
Dietary lycopene, tomato-based food products and cardiovascular disease in women
Male fertility disorders ✪✪✪✪✪
Preliminary clinical research shows that taking 2 mg of lycopene orally twice a day for 3 months improves sperm concentration, motility, and morphology in some men with idiopathic infertility. nn
Posologie
Orally
2 - 4 mg
3 - months
Men
UV exposure ✪✪✪✪✪
Preliminary clinical research shows that taking 10 to 16 mg of lycopene orally per day for 12 weeks, in the form of tomato concentrate or tomato extract, may provide some protection against sunburn. nn
Posologie
Orally
10 - 16 mg
12 - weeks
Adults
Tomato paste rich in lycopene protects against cutaneous photodamage in humans in vivo: a randomized controlled trial.
Supplementation with tomato-based products increases lycopene, phytofluene, and phytoene levels in human serum and protects against UV-light-induced erythema.
Prostatitis ✪✪✪✪✪
Preliminary clinical research conducted in men suffering from prostatitis and chronic pelvic pain syndrome shows that daily intake for 8 weeks of a specific combination of lycopene 5 mg, selenium 50 mcg and saw palmetto 320 mg reduces pain scores by 52% compared with 26% with saw palmetto alone. Further clinical studies are necessary to confirm the action of lycopene.
Posologie
Orally
5 mg
Men
Synergies
Prostate cancer ✪✪✪✪✪
Epidemiological evidence regarding the role of lycopene in the prevention of prostate cancer is conflicting. Some research suggests that increased dietary intake of lycopene from tomatoes and tomato-based products, or higher serum lycopene levels, are associated with a lower risk of developing prostate cancer. However, other epidemiological studies show no association between dietary lycopene intake or serum lycopene levels and prostate cancer risk. A meta-analysis of 42 studies shows that the risk of developing prostate cancer decreases by 1% for each additional 2 mg of daily dietary lycopene intake and decreases by 3.5% for each 10 mcg/dL increase in circulating lycopene levels. Preliminary clinical research in men with high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia indicates that taking oral lycopene supplements at 4 mg twice daily for one year may delay or prevent progression to prostate cancer. In men with recurrent metastatic prostate cancer, taking oral lycopene at 10 mg to 30 mg per day or tomato-based products providing an average of 43 mg of lycopene per day for 3 to 6 months stabilizes PSA (prostate-specific antigen) levels in 29% to 95% of cases.
Posologie
Oral
8 - 30 mg
1 - years
Men
A prospective study of tomato products, lycopene, and prostate cancer risk
The role of tomato products and lycopene in the prevention of prostate cancer: a meta-analysis of observational studies
Lycopene: a novel drug therapy in hormone refractory metastatic prostate cancer
Increased dietary and circulating lycopene are associated with reduced prostate cancer risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Lycopene as a chemopreventive agent in the treatment of high-grade prostate intraepithelial neoplasia
Response of hormone refractory prostate cancer to lycopene
Lycopene and soy isoflavones in the treatment of prostate cancer
Lycopene for advanced hormone refractory prostate cancer: a prospective, open phase II pilot study
Serum levels of folate, lycopene, β-carotene, retinol and vitamin E and prostate cancer risk
Prostate cancer and dietary carotenoids
Inverse associations between plasma lycopene and other carotenoids and prostate cancer
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study in men with prostate cancer and rising PSA: effectiveness of a dietary supplement
Serum and tissue lycopene and biomarkers of oxidation in prostate cancer patients: a case-control study
Properties
Antioxidant
Lycopene is an antioxidant; it reduces the formation of free radicals in cells and the blood. nn
Anticancer
Lycopene has antioxidant effects and may reduce cancer risk by trapping free radicals, thereby preventing oxidative damage to DNA. It is also thought that lycopene suppresses carcinogen-induced phosphorylation of regulatory proteins, such as the tumor suppressors p53 and Rb, and that it arrests cell division at the G0-G1 phase of the cell cycle. Lycopene may be protective against carcinogen-induced preneoplastic lesions in the rat liver by acting on cytochrome P450-2E1. It also reduces cell proliferation induced by insulin-like growth factors.nn
Usages associés
Dermatologic effect
The use of lycopene to prevent acne has attracted some interest. Clinical research conducted in healthy subjects suggests that consuming ice cream containing lycopene could reduce the risk of developing acne by reducing skin desquamation and the presence of gram-positive bacteria on the skin. This study was limited by the absence of a placebo comparison.nnAlso, lycopene may help prevent UV-induced skin damage by scavenging reactive oxygen species and absorbing UVA and UVB rays. The lycopene molecule is altered by these processes, resulting in reduced levels of lycopene in the skin.nn
Usages associés
Lipid-lowering
The cholesterol-lowering effects of lycopene may be due to inhibition of macrophage hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase and to enhanced degradation and removal of LDL cholesterol from the circulation.nn
Usages associés
Antiplatelet agents/Anticoagulant
Lycopene inhibits platelet activation, including that induced by adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and collagen, in vitro. Suggested mechanisms include inhibition of thromboxane B2 formation and activation of cyclic GMP and nitrate formation in platelets.
Safe dosage
Adult: 45 mg
Lycopene supplements have been used safely at doses of 15 mg to 45 mg per day for 4 to 6 months.
Interactions
Médicaments
Antiplatelet agents/Anticoagulants: moderate interaction
Lycopene has anticoagulant activity in vitro. Theoretically, taking it with anticoagulant or antiplatelet medications could increase the risk of bruising and bleeding.
Plantes ou autres actifs
Lycopene: weak interaction
Calcium can decrease the absorption of lycopene and reduce its effects.
Lycopene: weak interaction
Lutein decreases the absorption of lycopene and could therefore reduce its effects.
Precautions
Pregnant: avoid
Taking lycopene during pregnancy has been associated with preterm births.
Breastfeeding: avoid
There is not enough reliable information available on the safety of lycopene supplements during breastfeeding.
Surgery: avoid
Lycopene has antiplatelet effects in vitro. Lycopene supplements may cause excessive bleeding if used in the perioperative period. Advise patients to stop lycopene supplements at least 2 weeks before surgery.
