The Benefits Lycopene

Lycopene (LYC), a natural carotenoid abundant in tomatoes, offers a wide array of health benefits. It exhibits potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, making it a valuable compound for maintaining overall health and protecting against various diseases [1]. Studies have shown that lycopene can effectively neutralize harmful free radicals, reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, prevent cell death, and restore normal cellular function [9].

Cardiovascular Benefits

Lycopene exhibits potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, making it a valuable compound for maintaining overall health and protecting against various diseases [1]. One of the most notable benefits of lycopene is its potential to protect against cardiovascular diseases. It has been shown to improve cholesterol levels, reduce blood vessel dysfunction, regulate blood pressure, and decrease the formation of atherosclerotic plaques, which are key contributors to heart disease [1]. Epidemiological studies suggest that a daily intake of 2-20mg of lycopene can offer substantial cardiovascular benefits [2]. While the exact mechanisms of action are still being investigated, lycopene’s ability to combat oxidative stress and inflammation is believed to play a crucial role in its cardioprotective effects [1].

Anticancer Properties

Lycopene has also demonstrated promising anticancer properties, particularly against prostate cancer [3,4,5]. It can trigger cell death in cancer cells, prevent the spread of cancer, reduce tumor growth and the formation of blood vessels that supply tumors, and lower inflammation levels [3]. These findings suggest that lycopene and its derivatives could be potential therapeutic agents for prostate cancer, and future research should focus on optimizing their use in cancer treatment [3,4,5].

Obesity and Diabetes

Research suggests that lycopene may help reduce the risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes, especially its cis-isomers, which are more easily absorbed by the body [6,7]. These isomers are found in higher concentrations in processed tomato products than in fresh tomatoes [2]. Lycopene is also considered safe and can be obtained from plant sources, chemical synthesis, or microbial fermentation [6].

Neuroprotective Effects

The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of lycopene contribute to its neuroprotective effects [8]. It can effectively cross the blood-brain barrier, making it accessible to the brain and capable of addressing various neurological disorders [8]. Studies have shown that lycopene may help alleviate symptoms and reverse pathological changes associated with neurodegenerative diseases, epilepsy, aging-related brain changes, brain hemorrhages, spinal cord injuries, and nerve damage [8]. It can also protect against the harmful effects of environmental toxins and high-fat diets on the brain [8].

Liver-Protective Effects

Through neutralization of free radicals, reduction of oxidative stress, inflammation, prevention cell death and restoring liver function lycopene has demonstrated hepatoprotective (liver-protective) effects [9]. It has shown promise in protecting against various liver diseases, including alcoholic liver disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, liver fibrosis, and liver damage caused by reduced blood flow, cancer, acute liver failure, and radiation [9]. Lycopene has also been found to protect against liver injury caused by medications and environmental toxins [9].Bone Health

Bone Health

Lycopene’s benefits extend to bone health as well, with studies showing its protective effect against bone loss in both animal models and human clinical trials [10]. A daily intake of 30 mg or more of lycopene has been found to be effective in reducing bone resorption markers in postmenopausal women [10].

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)

A combination of Lycopene, Selenium and Saw Palmetto has been shown to improve symptoms and urinary flow in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) [11]. This further highlights Lycopene’s potential as a therapeutic agent for various health conditions.

References

1. Khan UM, Sevindik M, Zarrabi A, Nami M, Ozdemir B, Kaplan DN, Selamoglu Z, Hasan M, Kumar M, Alshehri MM, Sharifi-Rad J. Lycopene: Food Sources, Biological Activities, and Human Health Benefits. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2021 Nov 19;2021:2713511. doi: 10.1155/2021/2713511. PMID: 34840666; PMCID: PMC8626194.
2. Przybylska S, Tokarczyk G. Lycopene in the Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases. Int J Mol Sci. 2022 Feb 10;23(4):1957. doi: 10.3390/ijms23041957. PMID: 35216071; PMCID: PMC8880080.
3. Mirahmadi M, Azimi-Hashemi S, Saburi E, Kamali H, Pishbin M, Hadizadeh F. Potential inhibitory effect of lycopene on prostate cancer. Biomed Pharmacother. 2020 Sep;129:110459. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2020.110459. Epub 2020 Jun 30. PMID: 32768949.
4. Moran NE, Thomas-Ahner JM, Wan L, Zuniga KE, Erdman JW, Clinton SK. Tomatoes, Lycopene, and Prostate Cancer: What Have We Learned from Experimental Models? J Nutr. 2022 Jun 9;152(6):1381-1403. doi: 10.1093/jn/nxac066. PMID: 35278075; PMCID: PMC9178968.
5. Kapała A, Szlendak M, Motacka E. The Anti-Cancer Activity of Lycopene: A Systematic Review of Human and Animal Studies. Nutrients. 2022 Dec 3;14(23):5152. doi: 10.3390/nu14235152. PMID: 36501182; PMCID: PMC9741066.
6. Zhu R, Chen B, Bai Y, Miao T, Rui L, Zhang H, Xia B, Li Y, Gao S, Wang XD, Zhang D. Lycopene in protection against obesity and diabetes: A mechanistic review. Pharmacol Res. 2020 Sep;159:104966. doi: 10.1016/j.phrs.2020.104966. Epub 2020 Jun 12. PMID: 32535223.
7. Leh HE, Lee LK. Lycopene: A Potent Antioxidant for the Amelioration of Type II Diabetes Mellitus. Molecules. 2022 Apr 4;27(7):2335. doi: 10.3390/molecules27072335. PMID: 35408734; PMCID: PMC9000630.
8. Paul R, Mazumder MK, Nath J, Deb S, Paul S, Bhattacharya P, Borah A. Lycopene – A pleiotropic neuroprotective nutraceutical: Deciphering its therapeutic potentials in broad spectrum neurological disorders. Neurochem Int. 2020 Nov;140:104823. doi: 10.1016/j.neuint.2020.104823. Epub 2020 Aug 20. PMID: 32827559.
9. Ibrahim IM, Althagafy HS, Abd-Alhameed EK, Al-Thubiani WS, Hassanein EHM. Promising hepatoprotective effects of lycopene in different liver diseases. Life Sci. 2022 Dec 1;310:121131. doi: 10.1016/j.lfs.2022.121131. Epub 2022 Oct 25. PMID: 36306869.
10. Walallawita US, Wolber FM, Ziv-Gal A, Kruger MC, Heyes JA. Potential Role of Lycopene in the Prevention of Postmenopausal Bone Loss: Evidence from Molecular to Clinical Studies. Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Sep 27;21(19):7119. doi: 10.3390/ijms21197119. PMID: 32992481; PMCID: PMC7582596.
11. Cicero AFG, Allkanjari O, Busetto GM, Cai T, Larganà G, Magri V, Perletti G, Robustelli Della Cuna FS, Russo GI, Stamatiou K, Trinchieri A, Vitalone A. Nutraceutical treatment and prevention of benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer. Arch Ital Urol Androl. 2019 Oct 2;91(3). doi: 10.4081/aiua.2019.3.139. PMID: 31577095.