General Description
Lycopene is a red-colored member of the carotenoid family, a group
of plant pigments that includes beta-carotene, lutein, alpha carotene,
and hundreds of others. Lycopene is the most abundant carotenoid
in the body and is among the most effective antioxidants of all
the carotenoids.
Food sources
Lycopene is found primarily in tomatoes. Smaller amounts are found
in watermelon, pink grapefruit, and guava. Lycopene from food
sources appears to be absorbed most efficiently when cooked with
a small amount of oil;1,2 thus tomato sauces
and other processed tomato products may be better sources than
raw tomatoes.
Health applications
- Cancer prevention
- Prostate health
- Antioxidant protection
Lycopene and cancer
Most of the scientific research on lycopene has focused on its role
in cancer prevention. Numerous studies have shown that men who regularly
consume tomatoes and tomato products have a lower risk of prostate
cancer than men who consume few tomato products.3-6
Although the protective effect of tomatoes is generally attributed
to their lycopene content, it is possible they may contain other
anticancer compounds. However, other studies have associated low
lycopene levels in the blood with increased risk for prostate cancer,7,8
suggesting that lycopene is the compound responsible for tomatoes'
anticancer effects. Preliminary studies indicate that lycopene may
also have a protective effect against cancers of the lung, breast,
pancreas, and cervix.9-13 Antioxidant
protection
Most of the benefits attributed to lycopene relate to its antioxidant
properties. As an antioxidant, lycopene may be useful to organs
and systems throughout the body. Research indicates that lycopene
helps protect against oxidation of LDL cholesterol,15
a major contributor to atherosclerosis and heart disease. One
study suggests that people with high levels of lycopene in their
blood may be at lower risk for heart attack than people with low
lycopene levels.16 Results from another study
suggest lycopene consumption may also help enhance immune function.
Dosage/toxicity
The optimum intake of lycopene is currently unknown. Lycopene
supplements are commonly taken in doses of 5 to 10 mg per day.
Lycopene has no known toxicity and appears to be very safe at
this dosage range. |
