“Lycopene?”Here!
Hasn’t appeared in a scanned product yet.
As a supplement
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
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Lycopene is a red carotenoid pigment found naturally in tomatoes, watermelon, and other red-pink fruits. In supplements it is usually extracted from tomatoes or produced synthetically and sold as a standalone antioxidant ingredient.
Why it’s used
Taken to support general antioxidant intake and, in some formulations, marketed toward prostate health, based on observational links between tomato-rich diets and lower prostate cancer risk.
What the evidence says
Observational studies associate higher dietary lycopene or tomato intake with lower rates of some cancers, but randomized controlled trials of lycopene supplements have not consistently shown a protective effect, and no major health authority has established a specific benefit from supplemental lycopene apart from diet. The evidence for supplement form specifically is weaker than for whole-food intake.
Context
Human trials have used lycopene doses ranging widely, commonly in the 4-30 mg/day range, over periods of weeks to years, with inconsistent results across studies; differences in tomato-based versus synthetic lycopene and in absorption may explain some of the variation.
Rumors
Lycopene supplements lower LDL cholesterol.
Does not support — establishedhealth and safety evidence
Studied in: patients with ischemic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.
Measured as a biomarker.
- Effect of Lycopene Supplementation on Some Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Markers of Endothelial Function in Iranian Patients with Ischemic Heart Failure: A Randomized Clinical Trial (Peer-reviewed) · Funded by Isfahan University of Medical Sciences · No conflicts declared
- Effects of Oral Lycopene Supplementation on Vascular Function in Patients with Cardiovascular Disease and Healthy Volunteers: A Randomised Controlled Trial (Peer-reviewed) · Funded by Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Wellcome Trust; British Heart Foundation; NIHR Cambridge BRC (government) · Authors declare a conflict of interest
Who’s saying this
- Natural Health Research — an advocacy group: non-profit promoting natural health approaches; founded by NOW Foods founder Elwood Richard
How we know who this is
- “Building on that foundation, Elwood established Natural Health Research as an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit in 2008, dedicated to reducing major causes of death through natural, cost-effective methods.” (their page)
- “After attending a 2002 symposium on omega-3 research by Dr. Bruce Holub, NOW Foods founder Elwood Richard launched an initiative to promote natural approaches to health.” (their page)
Lycopene reduces the risk of prostate cancer.
Unresolvedhealth and safety evidence
Measured as an outcome.
- Lycopene and Risk of Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (Peer-reviewed) · Funded by National Natural Science Foundation of China (government) · No conflicts declared
- Lycopene for the prevention of prostate cancer (Peer-reviewed) · Funding not checked
Who’s saying this
- hims.com — we couldn’t open the site to see who runs it
Lycopene supplements support prostate health.
Does not support — establishedhealth and safety evidence
Measured as a biomarker.
- Lycopene for the prevention of prostate cancer (Peer-reviewed) · Funding not checked
Who’s saying this
- Walmart — a retailer: sells fashion, home goods and more; Walmart+ membership
How we know who this is
- “The trademarks Walmart and the Walmart Spark design are registered with the US Patent and Trademark Office.” (their page)
- “Annual members can save $380 per year!” (their page)