Lycopene / Tomato Carotenoid
Solanum lycopersicum
Lycopene has the strongest epidemiological evidence for prostate cancer prevention of any dietary compound — multiple meta-analyses show high intake reduces prostate cancer risk by 30–40%. Lycopene also inhibits breast, lung, and endometrial cancer cell growth. Cooked tomatoes with olive oil dramatically increase lycopene bioavailability vs raw tomatoes.
Medicinal Properties
Cancer Types Studied
Recommended Dosage
15–30 mg lycopene daily from cooked tomatoes with olive oil.
Preparations
Cooked Tomatoes with Olive Oil
2 cups cooked tomato sauce with olive oil daily. Cooking + fat dramatically increases lycopene vs raw. Canned tomatoes are excellent sources.
Lycopene Supplements
15–30 mg standardised lycopene daily if dietary intake insufficient.
NIH / PubMed Research
Links open on PubMed (National Library of Medicine). Research is ongoing — results may not reflect clinical use.
Cautions & Interactions
- Food source safer than isolated supplements
- Supplement overdose causes lycopenemia — skin discolouration (harmless)
- May lower blood pressure
- Generally very safe at food amounts
Related Herbs
Informational only. Not medical advice. Consult your healthcare provider before use.