Lycopene

Uses

Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate. The effectiveness ratings for LYCOPENE are as follows:

Possibly ineffective for…

• 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’s disease.

Insufficient evidence to rate effectiveness for…

• An eye disease that leads to vision loss in older adults (age-related macular degeneration or AMD). It’s unclear if lycopene reduces the risk of AMD. Some research has found that people with low levels are almost twice as likely to develop AMD compared to people with high levels. But not all research agrees.
• Lou Gehrig’s disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS). Lycopene is a type of carotenoid. People who get more carotenoids in their diet seem to have a lower risk of ALS. But diets specifically rich in lycopene alone don’t seem to be linked with a lower risk of ALS.
• Asthma. Early research shows that taking a product containing lycopene doesn’t prevent asthma flare-ups in people with stable asthma. But it might improve lung function after exercise in people with asthma who tend to have flare-ups after exercise.
• Hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis). There is some evidence that higher blood levels are associated with a reduced risk of hardening of the arteries. There is also early evidence that higher lycopene blood levels can reduce the risk of heart disease associated with the hardening of the arteries. However, there does not appear to be a link between lycopene levels and stroke risk.
• Enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH). Early research shows that taking lycopene can slow the rate of prostate growth and can improve symptoms in people with this condition. However, other research found no link between intake in the diet and the development of an enlarged prostate.
• Breast cancer. Research about how lycopene affects breast cancer risk is inconsistent. Some evidence suggests that having higher blood levels is associated with a lower risk of breast cancer. However, other research shows that neither lycopene intake nor lycopene blood levels are linked to breast cancer risk.
• Heart disease. Early research links higher levels of lycopene in the blood and in the diet to a reduced risk of developing heart disease or having a heart attack or stroke. Research also shows that taking a supplement does not reduce most risk factors for heart diseases, such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol. It’s not known if taking a supplement reduces the risk of heart disease-related events such as stroke or heart attack.
• Cataracts. One study suggests that higher lycopene blood levels are associated with a lower risk of developing cataracts. However, other studies have found no link between intake or lycopene blood levels and the risk of developing cataracts.
• Cancer of the cervix. Research about how it affects the risk of cervical cancer is inconsistent. Some evidence suggests that higher lycopene blood levels or higher lycopene intake in the diet are linked to a lower risk of cervical cancer. Other studies have not found this link.
• A condition that causes persistent pelvic pain, urinary problems, and sexual problems (Chronic prostatitis and chronic pelvic pain syndrome). Taking a product containing lycopene, selenium, and saw palmetto for 8 weeks may reduce pain in men with prostate swelling and pelvic pain better than taking saw palmetto alone. It’s unclear if this benefit is due to lycopene, other ingredients, or the combination.
• Colon cancer, rectal cancer. Some research has found that diets rich in lycopene are linked with a decreased risk of colon and rectal cancer. But other research has found no link between lycopene intake in the diet and the risk of colon and rectal cancer.
• Cancer of the esophagus. Early research has found that diets rich in lycopene are linked with a decreased risk of esophageal cancer.
• Muscle damage caused by exercise. Early research shows that taking a combination of lycopene and other ingredients can reduce the muscle damage that occurs with a 2-hour long-distance run.
• Brain tumor. Early research shows that taking it by mouth for 3 months does not improve the response to radiotherapy and chemotherapy in people with brain tumors.
• A mild form of gum disease (gingivitis). The effects on gingivitis are unclear. Some research shows that taking lycopene for 2 weeks or receiving a shot of gel into the gums reduces gum disease. But other research shows no benefit.
• A digestive tract infection that can lead to ulcers (Helicobacter pylori or H. pylori). Early research shows that taking lycopene along with antibiotics does not help treat H. pylori infection compared to taking antibiotics alone.
• A sexually transmitted infection that can lead to genital warts or cancer (human papillomavirus or HPV). Women with higher levels of lycopene in their blood seem to recover from cancer-associated HPV infection faster than women with lower lycopene blood levels.
• High levels of cholesterol or other fats (lipids) in the blood (hyperlipidemia). Early research shows that taking lycopene for 6 months lowers total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL or “bad”) cholesterol, and increases high-density lipoprotein (HDL or “good”) cholesterol. However, other evidence suggests that it does not affect cholesterol levels in adults with heart disease.
• High blood pressure. Early research shows that taking lycopene daily for 8 weeks might lower blood pressure in people with high blood pressure. However, lycopene doesn’t seem to help people with borderline high blood pressure.
• Lung cancer. Research about how it affects the risk of lung cancer is inconsistent. Some research shows that lower lycopene intake in the diet is linked to an increased risk of lung cancer. However, other research suggests that there is no link between lycopene consumption in the diet or lycopene blood levels and lung cancer risk.
• Conditions in a man that prevent him from getting a woman pregnant within a year of trying to conceive (male infertility). Early research shows that taking lycopene by mouth daily for 3 months improves sperm quality in some men with fertility problems due to unknown causes.
• Symptoms of the menopause. Early research shows that taking a specific product containing lycopene, calcium, vitamin D3, astaxanthin, and citrus bioflavonoids daily for 8 weeks reduces menopausal symptoms including hot flashes, joint pain, anxiety, and depression.
• White patches inside the mouth are usually caused by smoking (oral leukoplakia). Early research shows that taking a specific supplement by mouth twice daily improves white pre-cancerous patches in the mouth.
• A painful mouth disease that reduces one’s ability to open the mouth (oral submucous fibrosis). Some people with this condition can’t open their mouths as wide as normal. Taking lycopene for 2-6 months might help these people open their mouths slightly wider.
• Ovarian cancer. The effect of lycopene on ovarian cancer risk is unclear. Some research shows that young women who get more lycopene in their diet have a lower risk of ovarian cancer. But other research shows no link between lycopene intake and ovarian cancer risk.
• Pancreatic cancer. Some early research shows that a diet high in lycopene, primarily from tomatoes, seems to lower the risk of developing pancreatic cancer.
• Skin rash caused by sun exposure (polymorphous light eruption or PMLE). Early research shows that a combination product containing lycopene and other ingredients can reduce skin reactions to light in people with PMLE.
• A pregnancy complication marked by high blood pressure and protein in the urine (pre-eclampsia). Research on the effect on preventing high blood pressure during pregnancy is unclear. 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 it does not affect blood pressure during pregnancy.
• Prostate cancer. Research on the effects of lycopene for preventing or treating prostate cancer is inconsistent. Some research suggests that increasing lycopene consumption in the diet, or having higher lycopene blood levels, is linked with a lower risk of prostate cancer. However, other research shows no link between lycopene intake or blood levels and prostate cancer risk. In addition, early research in men with precancerous changes in their prostate shows that taking supplements might delay or prevent the progression to prostate cancer. However, in other research, taking lycopene daily for up to one year did not seem to help treat prostate cancer.
• Kidney cancer. Early research shows no link between consumption in the diet and the risk of developing kidney cancer
• Sunburn. Early research shows that taking lycopene by mouth, alone or together with other ingredients, might protect against sunburn
• Other conditions.

More evidence is needed to rate lycopene for these uses.

Side Effects Of Lycopene

• When taken by mouth: Lycopene is LIKELY SAFE when taken by mouth in appropriate amounts. Daily supplements containing up to 120 mg of lycopene have been used safely for up to one year.

Warnings & Precautions

• Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Lycopene is LIKELY SAFE during pregnancy and breastfeeding when taken in amounts commonly found in foods. However, lycopene is POSSIBLY UNSAFE when taken as a supplement during pregnancy. In one study, using a specific supplement (LycoRed, Jagsonpal Pharmaceuticals) 2 mg daily, starting between weeks 12 and 20 of pregnancy and continuing until delivery, increased the rate of premature births and low-birth-weight babies. But in another study using the same supplement, these problems weren’t seen. Not enough is known about the safety of lycopene supplements during breast-feeding. If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, avoid using it in amounts greater than those typically found in foods.
• Surgery: Lycopene might slow blood clotting. It might increase the risk of bleeding during and after surgery. Stop using supplements at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.

Dosage Of Lycopene

The appropriate dose 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. 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.

Other

Consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Source

All information has been provided courtesy of MedLinePlus from the National Library of Medicine and from the FDA.