Lycopene
Useful mainly for adults with low tomato/carotenoid intake seeking prostate health support or cardiovascular biomarker improvement.
Quick decision guide
May help most
Adults with low tomato/carotenoid intake seeking prostate health support or cardiovascular biomarker improvement
Common dosing range
10–30 mg/day
When to expect effects
Weeks for biomarker changes; months for any clinical effect
Watch out for
Excess intake causes lycopenemia (orange-red skin discoloration) — harmless but cosmetically notable
What is it
Lycopene is a red carotenoid pigment found in tomatoes, watermelon, pink grapefruit, and guava. Unlike beta-carotene, it has no vitamin A activity but is a potent singlet-oxygen quencher and antioxidant.
Is it worth it for you?
Use this as a quick fit check, not a diagnosis.
Worth considering if…
Probably skip if…
Evidence at a glance
| Goal | Effect | Best fit | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
cardiovascular risk biomarkers Limited Evidence | Modest reductions in LDL oxidation, blood pressure, and inflammatory markers in several RCTs | Adults with elevated cardiovascular risk markers, particularly elevated LDL or blood pressure | 4–12 weeks |
prostate cancer risk reduction Limited Evidence | Inconsistent across trials; epidemiologic signal not confirmed in RCTs | Men with elevated PSA or family history of prostate cancer and low lycopene intake | Months to years if any effect exists |
cardiovascular risk biomarkers
- Effect
- Modest reductions in LDL oxidation, blood pressure, and inflammatory markers in several RCTs
- Best fit
- Adults with elevated cardiovascular risk markers, particularly elevated LDL or blood pressure
- Time
- 4–12 weeks
prostate cancer risk reduction
- Effect
- Inconsistent across trials; epidemiologic signal not confirmed in RCTs
- Best fit
- Men with elevated PSA or family history of prostate cancer and low lycopene intake
- Time
- Months to years if any effect exists
Evidence for 2 uses
AI-assisted evidence assessment — talk to your doctor before relying on any single supplement.
cardiovascular risk biomarkers
Biomarker supportMeta-analyses of RCTs show lycopene supplementation modestly reduces LDL cholesterol, systolic blood pressure (~5 mmHg), and oxidative stress markers including oxLDL. Lycopene's extended conjugated double bond system provides potent singlet-oxygen quenching, protecting LDL from oxidation. These are biomarker endpoints; no cardiovascular outcome RCTs of lycopene supplementation exist.
Bottom line: Lycopene modestly improves cardiovascular biomarkers — these are surrogate endpoints, not proven reductions in heart attack or stroke.
Evidence is mixed
Epidemiologic data linking higher blood lycopene to lower cardiovascular risk is stronger than RCT evidence from isolated supplementation; food matrix effects and confounders limit interpretation of observational findings.
prostate cancer risk reduction
Supplement benefitMultiple prospective cohort studies link higher lycopene intake and blood levels to lower prostate cancer risk. However, RCTs of lycopene supplementation have not consistently confirmed cancer risk reduction. Lycopene concentrates in prostate tissue and has been shown to reduce PSA in some trials, but the evidence for actual prostate cancer prevention remains unestablished from RCTs. This may reflect a food-matrix effect not reproduced by isolated supplementation.
Bottom line: Epidemiologic associations are intriguing but isolated lycopene supplementation has not been proven to reduce prostate cancer risk in RCTs.
Evidence is mixed
Observational studies suggest benefit but controlled intervention trials have been inconsistent; whether lycopene or other tomato components drive any effect is unclear.
How it works
How to take it
What to track
2 commercial forms
Compare the main delivery options and what they’re best suited for.
Lyc-O-Mato (tomato-derived)
Used in most clinical trials.
Well-characterized standardized extract.
Synthetic lycopene
Cheaper supplement source.
Bioequivalent to natural.
Safety
Know the common side effects, key cautions, and who should avoid it.
Common side effects
Pregnancy & breastfeeding
Safe at dietary levels from food; supplement doses at 10–30 mg/day are not known to be harmful, but data are limited — dietary intake from tomatoes and cooked tomato products is preferred.
Interactions
Modest additional blood pressure lowering at higher doses; generally clinically minor
Documented interactions
Evidence-graded pair pages with sources, dosing notes, and timing guidance — a complement to the narrative section above.
See all 1 Lycopene interaction →Food sources
| Food | Amount | %DV |
|---|---|---|
| Tomato paste (1 tbsp) | ~6-8 mg lycopene | — |
| Cooked tomato (1 cup) | ~7-10 mg | — |
| Watermelon (1 cup) | ~6-7 mg | — |
Tomato paste (1 tbsp)
- Amount
- ~6-8 mg lycopene
- %DV
- —
Cooked tomato (1 cup)
- Amount
- ~7-10 mg
- %DV
- —
Watermelon (1 cup)
- Amount
- ~6-7 mg
- %DV
- —
Choosing a product
What to look for on the label — and what to be skeptical of.
Look for…
Be skeptical of…
Frequently asked questions
Should I eat raw or cooked tomatoes for lycopene?⌄
Cooked tomatoes with oil deliver more bioavailable lycopene than raw.
Does lycopene prevent prostate cancer?⌄
Observational data suggest a benefit; clinical trials have been mixed. A diet rich in tomato products is a reasonable choice regardless.
References by claim
Track Lycopene with Pilora
Set up dose reminders, check interactions, and join the community in the Pilora iPhone app.
Coming to App StoreDisclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This page is educational, not a substitute for personalized medical advice. Evidence grades are AI-assisted assessments — talk to your doctor before starting any new supplement, especially if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, on medications, or managing a chronic condition.