The tomato as a functional oroperties. PLoS One. Other Lycopene antioxidant properties can also add a little lycopene to your diet, such as asparagus, persimmons, and red bell peppers.

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The Unexpected Health Benefits of Lycopene

Lycopene antioxidant properties -

In this study, supplements providing a mix of lycopene and other carotenoids were more effective against UV damage than those providing lycopene alone However, it is no replacement for sunscreen.

So far, most of these benefits have only been observed in test-tube and animal research. More studies in humans are needed before strong conclusions can be made.

Lycopene may help reduce feelings of pain and have beneficial effects on your eyes, brain and bones. More studies, especially in humans, are needed to confirm these results.

Tomatoes are the biggest food source, and the riper the tomato, the more lycopene it contains. But you can find this nutrient in an array of other foods as well.

There is currently no recommended daily intake for lycopene. However, from the current studies, intakes between 8—21 mg per day appear to be most beneficial. Most red and pink foods contain some lycopene.

Tomatoes and foods made with tomatoes are the richest sources of this nutrient. However, when taken as a supplement, lycopene may interact with certain medications, including blood thinners and blood-pressure lowering medications One small study also found that 2 mg of daily lycopene supplements during pregnancy could increase your risk of preterm labor or low birth weight As a side note, some research reports that the beneficial effects of this nutrient may be stronger when eaten from foods rather than supplements Lycopene supplements may not be suited for everyone and do not always offer the same benefits as lycopene from foods.

In a few rare cases, eating very high amounts of lycopene-rich foods led to a skin discoloration known as lycopenodermia.

In one study, the condition resulted from a man drinking 34 ounces 2 liters of tomato juice daily for several years. The skin discoloration can be reversed following a lycopene-free diet for a couple of weeks 37 , Lycopene supplements may not be suited for pregnant women and those taking certain types of medications 34 , Lycopene found in foods is generally risk-free.

However, lycopene from supplements, especially when taken in high amounts, may have some downsides. Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant with many health benefits, including sun protection, improved heart health and a lower risk of certain types of cancer.

Though it can be found as a supplement, it may be most effective when consumed from lycopene-rich foods like tomatoes and other red or pink fruits. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.

Tomatoes are high in many nutrients, and also contain a cancer-fighting substance called lycopene. Red vegetables, like tomatoes and bell peppers, may help reduce the risk of diabetes, osteoporosis, and high cholesterol. Watermelon is a delicious low calorie treat with numerous benefits.

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Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Nutrition Evidence Based Lycopene: Health Benefits and Top Food Sources. By Alina Petre, MS, RD NL — Updated on October 3, Antioxidant Cancer Heart Health Sun Protection Other Benefits Food Sources Supplements Risks Bottom Line Lycopene is a plant nutrient that gives fruits like tomatoes and grapefruit their color.

Lycopenemia results in an orange or red discoloration of the skin and resolves after eating a diet low in lycopene. It's considered to be relatively harmless.

If you do not feel well after taking lycopene, stop the supplement and reach out to your healthcare provider. While lycopene is generally safe for use, lycopene supplements should not be used without first speaking with a healthcare provider.

Lycopene supplements should generally be avoided during;. Dietary supplements are not regulated in the United States, meaning the Food and Drug Administration FDA does not approve them for safety and effectiveness before products are marketed.

When possible, choose a supplement that has been tested by a trusted third party, such as USP, ConsumerLabs, or NSF. It is important to talk to your healthcare provider about any supplements you plan to take and to check in about any potential interactions with other supplements or medications.

While there is not a formal recommendation for lycopene intake, 2 to 75 milligrams per day has been commonly studied and proven safe. The length of use in studies is usually one to six months. Lower doses are less likely to cause the benign skin condition, lycopenemia, discussed above.

Lycopene is fat-soluble, meaning that is better absorbed in the gut when taken with fat. As such, you should take lycopene supplements with meals that contain reasonable amounts of healthy fat, such as those from nuts, fatty fish, eggs, avocado, or olive oil. There are no known immediate side effects of taking too much lycopene.

With long-term lycopene supplementation, you may develop the benign skin condition lycopenemia. This results in a yellow or orange skin tone that resolves after following a diet lower in lycopene. Be aware that lycopene competes with other carotenoids for absorption into the gut.

Therefore, taking a lycopene supplement with lutein, beta-carotene, or another carotenoid supplement, may result in decreased absorption. Other supplements, such as calcium, can also reduce absorption. Antiplatelets: Lycopene may inhibit blood clotting, which could increase the risk of bleeding during and after surgery.

Use caution when using lycopene with other medicines, including herbal preparations and plant-based medicines. Anorectic drugs : Theoretically, drugs that decrease food consumption anorectic drugs overall may decrease lycopene intake.

Lipase inhibitors : Lipase inhibitors, which decrease fat absorption, may also impact your body's ability to absorb lycopene. Lycopene should be stored at room temperature and away from direct sunlight.

Most containers block ultraviolet UV light to protect the supplement from damage. Supplements similar to lycopene include:. Beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin are carotenoids and antioxidants like lycopene. However, they are found in different foods. For example, beta-carotene is well-known for giving carrots their orange color and is also found in sweet potatoes, tomatoes, and many other foods.

Lutein and zeaxanthin are mainly found in dark green vegetables. Beta-carotene is actually converted into another antioxidant, vitamin A, in the body. Vitamin A can generally be found in the same foods as beta-carotene.

Vitamins E and C are also common antioxidants in our diet. Vitamin E, also known as tocopherol, is found in a variety of foods, including almonds, sunflower seeds, avocado, and tomatoes.

Vitamin C is well-known for its presence in citrus fruits but is also in tomatoes and many other foods. A fresh medium-sized tomato has about 3. A cup of wedged watermelon contains about 13 milligrams of lycopene. About 2 tablespoons 33 grams of tomato paste contains about 25 milligrams of lycopene.

Whole foods should be the preferred source of lycopene, as they contain additional nutrients that may work together with lycopene to provide health benefits. For example, tomatoes contain various other antioxidants in addition to lycopene, which together may give the food its health-promoting power.

Further, while lycopene alone has not been proven to reduce cholesterol, having a good amount of fiber in the diet can. While fiber can be found in a tomato, it won't be found in a lycopene supplement.

Lycopene is found in a variety of foods, most having the trademark orange or red hue that lycopene provides. Foods to look for with the highest amounts of lycopene are watermelon, tomatoes, grapefruit, papaya, and mangoes.

Certain tomato products, including sun-dried tomato and tomato paste, are very potent sources. Other foods can also add a little lycopene to your diet, such as asparagus, persimmons, and red bell peppers.

Different types of lycopene supplements exist that you should be aware of when you head to the store. Lycopene may be sold in a "synthetic" form, which means that it was created in a lab.

There are also "extracted" forms of lycopene, which means chemistry is used to remove it from a food source, such as a tomato. Lycopene from both sources appears to act the same once they are in your body.

There is a third type of supplement that is referred to as a "standardized tomato extract," which contains lycopene in addition to other nutrients that occur in tomatoes. This typically includes the antioxidants vitamin E tocopherol and vitamin A among other nutrients.

Tierney AC, Rumble CE, Billings LM, George ES. Effect of Dietary and Supplemental Lycopene on Cardiovascular Risk Factors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Advances in Nutrition. Shaw JA, Koti M. Orange discoloration of the palms. Canadian Medical Association Journal. Banerjee S, Jeyaseelan S, Guleria R. Trial of lycopene to prevent pre-eclampsia in healthy primigravidas: results show some adverse effects. J Obstet Gynaecol Res.

doi: Kurutas EB. Nutr J. Published Jul Mackinnon ES, Rao AV, Josse RG, Rao LG. Supplementation with the antioxidant lycopene significantly decreases oxidative stress parameters and the bone resorption marker N-telopeptide of type I collagen in postmenopausal women. Osteoporos Int.

Russo C, Ferro Y, Maurotti S, et al. Lycopene and bone: an in vitro investigation and a pilot prospective clinical study. J Transl Med.

Published Jan Chen P, Zhang W, Wang X, et al. Lycopene and Risk of Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Medicine Baltimore. Rowles JL, Ranard KM, Smith JW, An R, Erdman JW.

Increased dietary and circulating lycopene are associated with reduced prostate cancer risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases. Leoncini E, Nedovic D, Panic N, Pastorino R, Edefonti V, Boccia S.

Carotenoid Intake from Natural Sources and Head and Neck Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Epidemiological Studies. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. Ubago-Guisado E, Rodríguez-Barranco M, Ching-López A, et al. Evidence Update on the Relationship between Diet and the Most Common Cancers from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition EPIC Study: A Systematic Review.

Published Oct Shimotsu ST, Jones-Webb RJ, Lytle LA, MacLehose RF, Nelson TF, Forster JL. The relationships among socioeconomic status, fruit and vegetable intake, and alcohol consumption.

Am J Health Promot. National Cancer Institute. Alcohol and Cancer Risk. LI X, XU J. Dietary and circulating lycopene and stroke risk: a meta-analysis of prospective studies. Scientific Reports. Published online July 11, Gajendragadkar PR, Hubsch A, Mäki-Petäjä KM, Serg M, Wilkinson IB, Cheriyan J.

Effects of oral lycopene supplementation on vascular function in patients with cardiovascular disease and healthy volunteers: a randomised controlled trial. PLoS One. Published Jun 9. Lodi G, Sardella A, Bez C, Demarosi F, Carrassi A. Interventions for treating oral leukoplakia. Cochrane Database Syst Rev.

Tsitsimpikou C, Tsarouhas K, Kioukia-Fougia N, et al. Dietary supplementation with tomato-juice in patients with metabolic syndrome: a suggestion to alleviate detrimental clinical factors. Food Chem Toxicol. Alien CM, Smith AM, Clinton SK, Schwartz SJ. Tomato consumption increases lycopene isomer concentrations in breast milk and plasma of lactating women.

J Am Diet Assoc. Mozos I, Stoian D, Caraba A, Malainer C, Horbańczuk JO, Atanasov AG. Lycopene and Vascular Health. Front Pharmacol. Published May Arballo J, Amengual J, Erdman JW. Lycopene: A Critical Review of Digestion, Absorption, Metabolism, and Excretion.

Salter-Venzon D, Kazlova V, Izzy Ford S, Intra J, Klosner AE, Gellenbeck KW. Evidence for decreased interaction and improved carotenoid bioavailability by sequential delivery of a supplement. Food Sci Nutr.

Lycopene is Lycopene antioxidant properties Potassium and eye twitching antioxidant, a bioactive substance of plant origin found in certain species of Antioxiddant and vegetables to which it Body fat percentage and performance the typical red, orange or yellow color, depending on Lycopdne concentration of pigment present Lycopene antioxidant properties the vegetable itself. Antoixidant belongs to the antioixdant family and owes propeerties name to the scientific prpperties of antioxidanf tomato, Solanum Lycopersicum, the fruit that contains most of it. Specifically, Lycopene is the carotenoid most commonly found in human blood and tissues, followed in order by the other carotenoids Beta-carotene, Lutein, and Zeaxanthin. From the perspective of chemical characteristics, Lycopene is an acyclic isomer of beta-carotene, that is, they have the same molecular formula but with the atoms positioned differently. Specifically, the Lycopene molecule is characterized by a long chain of 40 carbon atoms C40H56 with 11 conjugated and 2 unconjugated double bonds. Because of their structure, Lycopene molecules upon exposure to light, thermal energy or chemical reactions undergo the process of trans-cis isomerization. Lycopene is the carotenoid with the greatest antioxidant action, i. A Natural Lycopene antioxidant properties Pigment in Plants That Eating patterns and habits Prevent Certain Diseases. It is wntioxidant to be good ahtioxidant bone health and, as Lycopene antioxidant properties antioxicant antioxidantmay help propfrties against Lyclpene disease and certain types of cancer. In addition to food sources, lycopene is available as a dietary supplement in tablet, capsule, and gelcap form. This article explores the benefits of lycopene supplements, as well as possible side effects and interactions. It also explains how to take lycopene supplements, including the dosage, and who should not take lycopene due to possible risks.