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Lycopene

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

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.

Outcome Effect Evidence Dose Weeks Rank
Raise protective carotenoid levels Likely strong benefit
large 		15 meta-analyses n=1.1k Meta-analyzed 7–70 mg 0–26 wk #1/7
Build firmer, denser skin Probably doesn't help
trivial 		1 meta-analysis n=162 Meta-analyzed 10–16 mg — —
Buy well

Recommended Lycopene products

Real products that dose Lycopene where the research does, in a clean formulation, from brands we've audited. We only list ones we'd stand behind.

Chosen for adequate Lycopene dosing vs. the studied range, a clean formulation (grade A–C), and independent brand-quality audits. Not sponsored.

Risk profile

Adverse events and known drug interactions

Safety events

hepatitis E (acute viral hepatitis) severe
pulmonary embolus severe
increased bowel movements mild
minor adverse events mild
sinusitis mild
nausea mild
diarrhea / increased stool frequency mild
stomach pain / abdominal cramps mild

Drug interactions

Ethanol (Alcohol) major increases toxicity
Ethanol (Alcohol) moderate increases concentration
Colistin moderate decreases effect
Cisplatin moderate decreases effect
Docetaxel moderate increases concentration

Sources

  1. 1. Antioxidant effects of lycopene in African American men with prostate cancer or benign prostate hyperplasia: a randomized, controlled trial. (2011) ↑
  2. 2. Lycopene for the prevention of prostate cancer. (2011) ↑
  3. 3. Lycopene for the prevention and treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer: a systematic review. (2012) ↑
  4. 4. Lycopene dietary intervention: a pilot study in patients with heart failure. (2015) ↑
  5. 5. Effects of oral lycopene supplementation on vascular function in patients with cardiovascular disease and healthy volunteers: a randomised controlled trial. (2014) ↑
  6. 6. A Phase II Randomized Trial of Lycopene-Rich Tomato Extract Among Men with High-Grade Prostatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia. (2015) ↑
  7. 7. Proprietary tomato extract improves metabolic response to high-fat meal in healthy normal weight subjects. (2016) ↑
  8. 8. Effects of Mixed Carotenoids on Adipokines and Abdominal Adiposity in Children: A Pilot Study. (2017) ↑
  9. 9. Effect of Tomato Nutrient Complex on Blood Pressure: A Double Blind, Randomized Dose⁻Response Study. (2019) ↑
  10. 10. Prebiotic Effect of Lycopene and Dark Chocolate on Gut Microbiome with Systemic Changes in Liver Metabolism, Skeletal Muscles and Skin in Moderately Obese Persons. (2019) ↑

Generated August 14, 2026

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