Last verified: today
Lycopene
Also known as: lycopene, psi,psi-carotene, all-trans-lycopene, tomato carotenoid
Evidence under review. — Not yet rated
Red pigment from tomatoes. Linked to better vascular health and lower prostate cancer risk in clinical studies.
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What it does
Lycopene is the red pigment that gives tomatoes their color. It acts as a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compound in the body. Clinical trials suggest it improves vascular endothelial...
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Evidence quality
Evidence base hasn't been formally rated yet. See research below.
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Clinical dose
15-27 mg/day based on vascular studies; 4.9+ mg/day associated with prostate cancer risk reduction
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Found in
Garden of Life Vitamin Code Men's Multi, Affiliatesupps, Thorne Basic Nutrients 2/Day and 9 more
What the Science Says
Lycopene is the red pigment that gives tomatoes their color. It acts as a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compound in the body. Clinical trials suggest it improves vascular endothelial function (a marker of artery health) at doses of 15–27 mg/day over 4–12 weeks, and observational data links higher dietary intake (above ~5 mg/day) to a significantly lower risk of prostate cancer.
What It Doesn't Do
Not a cancer cure — the prostate cancer data is observational, not from a treatment trial. Multivitamin supplements containing lycopene don't reliably raise blood lycopene levels. No solid human evidence it treats brain diseases, kidney disease, or breast cancer on its own. Most dramatic findings come from animal studies, not people.
Evidence-Based Benefits
Improves artery flexibility (flow-mediated dilation) in healthy adults with borderline readings.
Moderate EvidenceEffective at: 15–27 mg/day for 4–12 weeks
Supporting studies (click to view on PubMed):
Higher dietary intake linked to significantly lower prostate cancer risk in men at cardiovascular risk.
Moderate EvidenceEffective at: 4.9+ mg/day from diet
Supporting studies (click to view on PubMed):
Reduces pro-inflammatory cytokines in adults with obesity when consumed as tomato-based juice.
Weak EvidenceEffective at: 54 mg/day (combined with isoflavones) for 4 weeks
Supporting studies (click to view on PubMed):
Acts as a potent antioxidant, reducing oxidative stress markers in multiple study models.
Weak EvidenceEffective at: 15–27 mg/day in human studies
Supporting studies (click to view on PubMed):
Absorption & Bioavailability
Moderate — absorption improves significantly when lycopene is consumed with fat or in processed/cooked tomato products. Serum levels rose 2.48-fold in one crossover trial using tomato-soy juice. Standard multivitamin supplementation did NOT significantly raise serum lycopene in a large 2-year RCT.
Red Flags to Watch For
- Multivitamin supplements may not effectively raise blood lycopene levels — food sources like tomato juice appear more reliable
- Most mechanistic data (kidney protection, neuroprotection) comes from animal studies and cannot be directly applied to humans
- Prostate cancer risk reduction data is observational — confounding from overall diet quality cannot be ruled out
- Products combining lycopene with many other ingredients (e.g., multi-nutraceutical blends) make it impossible to attribute effects to lycopene alone
Products Containing Lycopene
See how Lycopene is used in these analyzed products:
Garden of Life Vitamin Code Men's Multi
Affiliatesupps
Supplement
Thorne Basic Nutrients 2/Day
Supplement
ADAM™ Men's Multiple Vitamin
Supplement
Life Extension Two-Per-Day Multivitamin
Supplement
Garden of Life Vitamin Code Men's Multivitamin
Prostate Support
Supplement
Medino
Supplement
Smartvita Men's Total Synergy Multivitamins
Supplement
Smartvita Women's Total Synergy Multivitamins
Supplement
Men's Multi+ Vitamin Supplement
Supplement
Life Extension Mix Capsules
Supplement
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Lycopene do?
Red pigment from tomatoes. Linked to better vascular health and lower prostate cancer risk in clinical studies.
What is the effective dose of Lycopene?
15-27 mg/day based on vascular studies; 4.9+ mg/day associated with prostate cancer risk reduction
Is Lycopene safe?
Multivitamin supplements may not effectively raise blood lycopene levels — food sources like tomato juice appear more reliable
What doesn't Lycopene do?
Not a cancer cure — the prostate cancer data is observational, not from a treatment trial.
Research Sources
- PubMed
- NIH DSLD
This information is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement regimen. Last updated: 2026-06-20