Lycopene: Benefits, Dosage, Contraindications

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
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Although some epidemiological data show no link between dietary lycopene intake and BPH development, some preliminary clinical research suggests that taking lycopene alone or in combination could improve symptoms of BPH. A preliminary clinical study shows that taking lycopene at 15 mg per day for 6 months slows BPH progression. Consuming 50 grams of tomato concentrate per day for 10 weeks reduced prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels by about 11% in BPH patients in another study. Other clinical research shows that taking a combination of lycopene 2.1 mg, pumpkin seed oil 160 mg, small-flowered willow herb 500 mg, pygeum 15 g, and saw palmetto 660 mg once daily for 3 months reduces the international prostate symptom score (IPSS) by 36% compared to 8% with placebo in BPH patients. In another study, daily intake of a combination of lycopene 5 mg, saw palmetto 320 mg, and selenium 50 mcg orally for 1 year reduced the IPSS similar to tamsulosin 0.4 mg per day (a drug prescribed to relieve symptoms of prostate enlargement). Concurrent intake of the supplement combination and tamsulosin resulted in a greater reduction of IPSS than either tamsulosin or supplements alone.

Posologie

Orally

5 - 15 mg

6 - months

Men

Synergies

Dyslipidemia
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Preliminary clinical research shows that taking a specific lycopene supplement orally 4 mg per day for 6 months reduces total cholesterol by 24% and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol by 15% and increases high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol by 26% compared to baseline values in postmenopausal women.00Other clinical research in Japanese patients with high cholesterol shows that taking 50 grams of a semi-dried tomato containing 22.0-27.8 mg of lycopene per day for 12 weeks modestly reduces LDL cholesterol levels but does not affect HDL cholesterol levels, compared to taking 50 grams of tomato without lycopene

Posologie

Orally

4 mg

Adults

Hypertension
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Preliminary clinical research in hypertensive patients shows that taking 15 to 30 mg of lycopene per day for 6 to 8 weeks, as a specific tomato extract, appears to reduce systolic blood pressure by 7 to 13.5 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure by 4 to 6 mmHg compared to baseline values.

Posologie

Orally

15 - 30 mg

8 - weeks

Adults

Cardiovascular Diseases
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Most epidemiological research has shown that higher serum levels of lycopene and increased dietary intake of lycopene are associated with a modest reduction in the risk of adverse cardiovascular events, including a reduction in the incidence of coronary artery disease, myocardial infarctions, strokes, and mortality. However, intervention trial results show that lycopene does not significantly improve most cardiovascular disease risk factors. Indeed, an analysis of clinical research shows that taking 4 to 30 mg of lycopene daily orally in addition to the usual diet does not improve diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, endothelial function, or inflammatory factors compared to diet alone in healthy patients. However, lycopene supplementation appears to reduce systolic blood pressure by about 6 mmHg.

Posologie

Oral route

4 - 15 mg

Adults

Male Fertility Issues
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Preliminary clinical research shows that taking lycopene 2 mg orally twice a day for 3 months improves sperm concentration, motility, and morphology in some men with idiopathic infertility.

Posologie

Oral route

2 - 4 mg

3 - months

Men

UV Exposure
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Preliminary clinical research shows that taking 10 mg to 16 mg of lycopene orally per day for 12 weeks, in the form of tomato concentrate or tomato extract, may provide some protection against sunburn.

Posologie

Oral route

10 - 16 mg

12 - weeks

Adults

Prostatitis
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Preliminary clinical research in men with prostatitis and chronic pelvic pain syndrome shows that taking a specific combination of lycopene 5 mg, selenium 50 mcg, and saw palmetto 320 mg daily for 8 weeks reduces pain scores by 52% compared to 26% with saw palmetto alone. Further clinical studies are needed to confirm the action of Lycopene.

Posologie

Oral route

5 mg

Men

Synergies

Prostate Cancer
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Epidemiological evidence on the role of lycopene in prostate cancer prevention is contradictory. Some research suggests that increased dietary intake of lycopene from tomatoes and tomato-based products, or higher serum levels of lycopene, are associated with a lower risk of developing prostate cancer. However, other epidemiological studies show no association between dietary intake of lycopene or serum levels of lycopene and prostate cancer risk. A meta-analysis of 42 studies shows that the risk of developing prostate cancer decreases by 1% for each additional 2 mg daily intake of lycopene and decreases by 3.5% for each 10 mcg/dL increase in circulating lycopene levels. Preliminary clinical research in men with high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia shows that taking oral lycopene supplements at 4 mg twice a day for a year may delay or prevent progression to prostate cancer. In men with relapsing metastatic prostate cancer, taking oral lycopene from 10 mg to 30 mg per day or tomato-based products providing an average of 43 mg of lycopene per day for 3 to 6 months stabilizes PSA (prostate-specific antigen) levels in 29% to 95% of cases.

Posologie

Oral route

8 - 30 mg

1 - years

Men