Most often
paired with images of plump, vine-ripened tomatoes, lycopene is a nutrient that
holds promise as a wonderful antioxidant. Lycopene belongs to the carotenoid
family, which includes beta-carotene, lutein and zeanthin. Like its kin,
lycopene intake seems to greatly benefit the body.
A red
pigment, lycopene is commonly found in fruits and vegetables of that hue. It
may be the most abundant nutrient of the carotenoid family related to prostate
health [Source: Borek]. For prevention, a higher intake of lycopene shows
greater benefit [Source: Giovannucci]. Further studies have demonstrated higher
fruit and vegetable intake, which in turn increases lycopene intake, helps
lower prostate cancer risk [Source: Smith-Warner].
As a
treatment for prostate cancer, supplemental lycopene didn’t show major benefit
[Source: Jatoi]. However, another study has shown patients taking 15 mg of
supplemental lycopene, three weeks before surgery to remove the prostate, had
improvements in cancerous lesions and decreases in the PSA score (a blood test
used to monitor prostate cancer) [Source: Kucuk].
Research of
various vitamins, including A and E, beta-carotene, lutein and lycopene, showed
that higher levels of these nutrients in the body, lycopene and beta-carotene
in particular, significantly protected against breast cancer [Source: Sato]. In
mice, lycopene has shown protection against the development of breast tumors
[Source: Nagasawa]. Animal research is also showing benefit to lung cancer.
Lycopene
also shows benefit for the blood vessels around the heart, demonstrating
protection to the blood vessels in the neck, better than vitamins A, E or
CoQ10. This isn’t much of a surprise since lycopene is regarded as a powerful
antioxidant. Higher levels of lycopene have also shown protection against heart
attack [Source: Kohlmeier]. Tomato paste, a tremendous source of this nutrient,
has demonstrated some protection against the development of cardiovascular
disease [Source: Sesso]. For protection from heart disease in women, lycopene
shows greater protection than the other carotenoid nutrients.
Aside from
the popular tomato, other sources of lycopene include red grapefruit,
watermelon and apricots. Given the high frequency of prostate cancer, all men
should make an effort to take in these foods daily. Patients with a personal or
family history of heart disease should also add these items for prevention.
Lycopene as
a supplement can be considered as part of a nutritional program, but most
studies suggest the food source is the optimal way to deliver this antioxidant
to the body tissues. This is true for most vitamins. Multiple studies have
demonstrated higher consumption of tomato products producing higher levels of
lycopene [Source: Wu, Campbell]. Nutritionists note that heating the tomato
with olive oil or consuming products like tomato paste or sauce actually makes
the lycopene more absorbable.
Commonly
included in multivitamins, the dosage for lycopene as a supplement is typically
10 mg daily for health maintenance. This fat soluble vitamin should be taken
with meals so that it can be absorbed more easily. Dosages used for prostate
cancer go up to 30 mg daily. This can be done in divided doses. Please
remember, lycopene should not be used alone as a treatment for prostate cancer,
but may, especially in the form of food, offer at least some benefit to both a
healthy or diseased prostate. It is generally tolerated very well. One study
did note that subjects could experience abdominal effects like bloating,
indigestion and nausea [Source: Jatoi].
How do I
know if a red fruit or vegetable contains lycopene?
From all of
my sources, the big player is far and away the tomato, with over 80 percent of
lycopene ingestion coming from them. Other common sources are watermelon and
pink grapefruit. Is it possible that anything red has some degree of lycopene,
sure, but I would focus on incorporating tomato products regularly.
