Lycopene

What is lycopene?

Lycopene is a red carotenoid pigment found in tomatoes, watermelon, pink grapefruit and guava. Cooked and processed tomato products such as sauce and paste are the richest dietary sources, and the lycopene in them is absorbed better when eaten with some fat. Unlike beta-carotene, lycopene is not converted into vitamin A. It is a potent antioxidant in laboratory tests and tends to concentrate in certain tissues, including the prostate, which is why it is popular in men’s health supplements.

What the research says

Enlarged prostate and prostate cancer

A 2012 systematic review identified eight randomized trials of lycopene for preventing or treating benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or prostate cancer. Pooled data showed no significant reduction in new BPH diagnoses or prostate cancer diagnoses. Two small studies in men already diagnosed with prostate cancer showed lower PSA levels with lycopene. Given the small number and mixed quality of trials, the authors concluded it was not possible to support or refute lycopene for these uses (Ilic and Misso, 2012).

A 2022 randomized trial in 52 men with BPH compared 25 mg a day of lycopene, lycopene plus another compound, the other compound alone, or placebo. The combination tended to produce larger drops in symptom scores and PSA, but apart from one growth factor marker, the changes were not statistically significant compared with placebo, and lycopene alone was not effective (Sadeghi et al., 2022).

A note on PSA

Because lycopene may lower PSA slightly in some men, anyone being monitored with PSA tests should tell their doctor about lycopene supplements so results can be interpreted correctly. A lower PSA from a supplement does not mean prostate disease has gone away.

Diet versus supplements

Observational studies have linked tomato-rich diets with health benefits, but people who eat more tomatoes also tend to eat more vegetables overall. Supplements isolate one compound and have not consistently reproduced those associations in trials. For most men, a diet that regularly includes tomato sauce, soups and other cooked tomato dishes is a sensible, low-cost way to get lycopene along with other nutrients.

Dose matters on labels

Some prostate formulas list lycopene as a percentage extract, which can make the amount look larger than it is. A label showing 37.5 mg of a 5% extract, for example, provides only about 1.9 mg of lycopene, a small fraction of the 25 mg used in the 2022 trial.

How it’s used in supplements

Lycopene is sold in softgels at a range of doses and is a common addition to prostate and eye formulas. Some products list a tomato extract with a percentage, such as 5% lycopene, which means the actual lycopene is a small fraction of the extract weight. It is considered safe at food-like amounts. Tell your doctor if you are monitored with PSA tests or take blood thinners.