Lycopene antioxidant effect is twice as high as that of beta carotene and ten times higher than that of alpha tocopherol. However, in people with a history of exercise-induced asthma, taking a specific lycopene product (LycoMato, LycoRed Corp., Orange, NJ) seems to improve lung function after exercise. Healthy males participated in a crossover design study that attempted to differentiate the effects of a tomato matrix from those of lycopene by using lycopene-rich red tomatoes, lycopene-free yellow tomatoes, and purified lycopene. However, there does not appear to be a link between lycopene levels and stroke risk. Sera samples collected before and after the interventions were incubated with lymph node cancer prostate cells to measure the expression of 45 target genes. Research on the effects of lycopene in people with asthma is inconsistent. Introduction: the colorful, fascinating world of the carotenoids: important physiologic modulators. Early research shows that taking a specific lycopene supplement by mouth twice daily improves white pre-cancerous patches in the mouth. As an antioxidant, lycopene helps protect against other diseases as well. They made this connection after following more than a thousand middle-aged men for 12 years. : Encyclopedia of Dietary Supplements. Lycopene is a phytochemical that belongs to a group of pigments known as carotenoids. The evidence for a relationship between tomato or tomato-based foods intake and a reduced risk of lung cancer is from one cohort study, one sub-cohort study and one nested case-control study. Two LycoRed® softules (each containing 2,000 micrograms of lycopene) have been taken by mouth daily for six months. However, other research shows no link between lycopene intake and the risk of colorectal cancer. In response to these petitions, FDA evaluated evidence for associations between lycopene (a food component) and tomatoes (a food) separately and each form of cancer. Lycopene Health Benefits for Men. The recommended intake is at least 10mg of lycopene per dayâfrom food. Lycopene is LIKELY SAFE when taken by mouth in appropriate amounts. enable_page_level_ads: true However, other research suggests that there is no link between lycopene levels or lycopene intake and the risk of age-related eye disease. Lycopene acts as an antioxidant, protecting cells against damage from the free radicals formed when body cells burn oxygen for energy. Two capsules of LycoRed® (each containing 15 milligrams of lycopene) have been taken by mouth once daily for 21 days 38). Research on the effect of lycopene for preventing high blood pressure during pregnancy is unclear. Brain tumor (giloma). Lycopene-rich tomatoes linked to lower stroke risk. Cervical cancer. Evidence strongly suggests lycopene is protective against lung, stomach and prostate cancers. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/cam/hp/prostate-supplements-pdq#section/_16, Neurology October 9, 2012 vol. All of these may help reduce ischemic strokes, which are caused by clot-caused blockages in blood flow to the brain. Some early research shows that a diet high in lycopene, primarily from tomatoes, seems to lower the risk of developing pancreatic cancer. Some research suggests that people with high lycopene intake in the diet are less likely to develop colorectal cancer than those with low intake. http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/lycopene-rich-tomatoes-linked-to-lower-stroke-risk-201210105400, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Birkhauser Verlag: Basel; 1987. Lists of natural carotenoids. High blood pressure. The evidence for a relationship between tomato intake and reduced risk of breast cancer is based on two case control studies. New York, NY: Informa Healthcare, 2010, pp 504-17. van Breemen RB, Pajkovic N: Multitargeted therapy of cancer by lycopene. Analysis of blood samples indicated that eating full-fat salad dressing led to more carotenoid absorption than eating low-fat or nonfat dressing. Key to carotenoids. : Lycopene and cardiovascular diseases: an update. Thirty healthy men aged 50 to 70 years were randomly assigned to two groups with each group consuming 200 g/d of yellow tomato paste (lycopene, 0 mg) and 200 g/d of red tomato paste (lycopene, 16 mg) as part of their regular diet for 1 week, separated by a 2-week washout period. However, other research found no link between lycopene intake in the diet and the development of an enlarged prostate. Cochrane Database Syst Rev (11): CD008007, 2011. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22071840?dopt=Abstract, van Breemen RB, Pajkovic N: Multitargeted therapy of cancer by lycopene. Lycopene is something that is found in certain fruits and vegetables and the body uses it as an antioxidant. Processing raw tomatoes using heat (in the making of tomato juice, tomato paste or ketchup, for example) actually changes the lycopene in the raw product into a form that is easier for the body to use. Some research shows that a diet rich in carotenoids, including lycopene, seems to help prevent ovarian cancer in young (premenopausal) women. Based on the above, FDA concludes that there is no credible evidence supporting a relationship between tomato or tomato-based food consumption and lung cancer. Ulcers caused by H. pylori infection. Then, in a parallel design, the first group underwent supplementation with purified lycopene (16 mg/d) for 1 week, whereas the second group received a placebo. 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