Lycopene has become a key player in the world of prostate health. To understand what it is and what it does, the Wellness Advisor spoke to Rachel Agnew, R.D.
Wellness Advisor: What is lycopene?
Rachel Agnew: Carotenoids like beta-carotene are the primary pigments responsible for the colors of fruits and vegetables. Lycopene is a member of the carotenoid family and gives fruits and vegetables such as tomatoes their red color. Tomatoes and tomato products are some of the best food sources of lycopene. Other good food sources include watermelon, pink grapefruit, and guava.
Lycopene in its natural form, found in fresh fruits and vegetables, is poorly absorbed by the body. It is through heat processing of foods that induces a more absorbable form of lycopene for the body. Therefore foods such as ketchup, tomato juice, tomato paste, and pizza sauce provide a more absorbable form of lycopene than do fresh tomatoes. In addition, lycopene provided by supplements seems to be as absorbable as the form found in heat processed foods. It has been shown that lycopene supplements can produce similar levels of lycopene in the body as tomato juice when ingested in equivalent amounts
WA: How does lycopene affect cancer risk?
Agnew: Oxidative stress is recognized as a major contributor to cancer risk, heart disease, and other health conditions. Lycopene is the most potent antioxidant of any common carotenoid. Lycopene’s potent antioxidant activities may provide some protection against heart disease and help reduce cancer risk by preventing oxidative stress and DNA damage. Because of its antioxidant activity, lycopene is being studied for its role in cancer prevention, specifically prostate, pancreatic, and stomach cancers.
WA: Is there research to back up lycopene’s claims?
Agnew: Existing research points to a strong association between high lycopene intake or high lycopene body levels to certain types of cancer prevention, heart health, and certain asthmatic conditions. After observing certain populations of people, various researchers noticed that high intakes of lycopene or high levels of lycopene in the body help lowered the risk of lung and stomach cancer, and significantly lowered the risk for prostate cancer. For heart health, researchers report that higher lycopene levels in the body are associated with lower risk of heart disease in women. In asthmatic conditions, lycopene supplementation was shown to help with exercise-induced asthma in those who took 30 mg/daily.
WA: How much lycopene should I consume?
Although the optimal dose of lycopene is not known, available research suggests eating 10 servings of tomato products per week or 6-15 mg of lycopene daily. Approximately 6 to 7 mg of lycopene daily has been linked to prostate health. In addition, 20-40 mg of supplemental lycopene will provide added antioxidant support as needed or recommended by your healthcare provider. Pregnant or breastfeeding women should consult with a physician before using lycopene supplements. No adverse effects have been reported with lycopene intake and/or supplementation. There are no known drug interactions or contraindications with lycopene at this time. Some drugs may decrease lycopene absorption if taken at the same time. These include cholestyramine, colestipol, mineral oil, and orlistat.
