Lycopene
Best for
Raise protective carotenoid levels
Likely strong benefit · 7–70 mg/day for 0–26 weeks · 2 meta-analyses , n=1.1k
37 papers · 2 claims · 59 outcomes scored · 1 positive
Evidence summary
Evidence summary
Likely strong benefitLycopene shows a likely strong benefit for raising blood carotenoid levels, but healthy-adult skin elasticity trials do not support a visible skin-firming payoff.
- Across 15 studies (n=1,104), lycopene raised blood lycopene and carotenoid markers, above the noticeable-change threshold.2
- The full evidence base includes 37 papers and 59 outcomes, with the clearest signal in blood biomarkers.
- Healthy-adult skin elasticity trials did not show a meaningful improvement.
Outcomes
What lycopene actually does, by outcome
Each row is one outcome with effect size, evidence base, the dose that worked in trials, and time to first effect. Magnitude tiers come from native-unit MCID where available, Cohen's d otherwise.
Plant pigments reach your bloodstream and protect cells from oxidation.
More collagen density for skin that bounces back and holds its shape.
Forms & standardisation
The best-covered forms in human studies are tomato products and standard lycopene extracts, not random blended greens powders.12 On a label, look for the actual lycopene amount in milligrams, because that number matters more than the marketing name. Products that come with food fat, or that you take with a meal, fit the absorption data better than dry pills taken alone.1
Risk profile
Adverse events and known drug interactions
Safety events
Drug interactions
Frequently asked
Common questions
What does lycopene actually do?
Should you take lycopene with food?
Does lycopene tighten skin?
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