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Lyc4.5
Lycopene Research
Too few graded studies
44 peer-reviewed studies
What the evidence says
Too few graded studies
Lycopene doesn't have enough studies with structured effect-size data yet to pool a verdict. Browse the studies below for individual findings.
Most evidence is from high-quality meta-analyses and randomised trials published 2015–2026 with a typical study size of 3,418 participants.
Based on 44 studies · 12 meta-analyses · 14 RCTs · 695,579 total participants
Confidence
High confidence
By outcome
Heart & blood pressureReduced oxidative-stress marker (MDA) but no significant effect on cholesterol, blood pressure, or glucose in RCTs · Unclear
Too few graded studies3 studies
BPH & lower urinary tract symptoms
Too few graded studies1 study
Safety profile
Too few graded studies1 study
Active research area
36 studies in the last 5 years · Latest meta-analysis: 2026
201520202026
1Meta-Analysis2026
In plain English: The effect appears more pronounced in men, highlighting potential sex-specific differences in carotenoid metabolism and cardiovascular risk modulation.
Cavero-Redondo I et al. · Nutrients (2026)
Pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated via random effects models.
High circulating lycopene levels were significantly associated with low IMT (pooled OR = 0.70; 95% CI: 0.59-0.84; I2 = 65.7%).
The association was stronger in men (OR = 0.62; 95% CI: 0.45-0.84) than in women (OR = 0.74; 95% CI: 0.58-0.95).
In plain English: This systematic review/meta-analysis with limited and moderate certainty evidence suggests that the continuous intake of lycopene-containing products may have beneficial effects on vascular endothelial function in healthy adults.
Yoshida K, Nakazawa Y, Takahashi S. · Nutrients (2026)
A meta-analysis of four continuous (≥7 days) lycopene-containing product intake studies measuring flow-mediated dilation (FMD) ( n = 182) revealed a significant increase in FMD (MD = 1.36, 95% confidence interval: 0.20, 2.51, p = 0.02).
One study not included in the meta-analysis showed that 15 mg of lycopene intake for 8 weeks significantly increased the reactive hyperemia peripheral arterial tonometry index.
However, the findings were derived from a small-scale meta-analysis in which the result was no longer statistically significant after the exclusion of one study.
In plain English: However, evidence for other fertility-related outcomes is inconclusive.
Viña I, Viña JR. · International journal of molecular sciences (2025)
Standardized mean differences (SMDs) were calculated for the key outcomes.
Lycopene supplementation significantly improved sperm concentration (SMD 0.33, 95% CI [0.02-0.65], p = 0.037) and nonprogressive motility (SMD 0.45, 95% CI [0.04-0.87], p = 0.032).
No statistically significant effects were observed on total motility, progressive motility, normal or abnormal morphology, semen volume, or DNA damage.
In plain English: The evidence gathered within the systematic review of RCTs did not confirm any influence of lycopene on mental health.
Głąbska D, Guzek D, Jílková A, Kołota-Burdzy A, Skolmowska D, Kouřimská L. · Nutrients (2025)
In spite of the fact that all six included studies were RCTs, the comparison between the intervention group and placebo group was made in only four studies, and none of them stated the difference between the compared groups.
A low risk of bias was concluded for three studies (all of them not confirming the influence of lycopene on mental health), and a high risk of bias was found in three studies (one of them not confirming, and two not conclusive).
Conclusions : The evidence gathered within the systematic review of RCTs did not confirm any influence of lycopene on mental health.
In plain English: Our findings show that dietary intake and blood levels of lycopene are associated with a lower risk of cancer and death due to cancer.
Balali A, Fathzadeh K, Askari G, Sadeghi O. · Frontiers in nutrition (2025)
High intakes and high levels of lycopene compared to low amounts were, respectively, associated with 5% (Pooled RR: 0.95, 95% CI: 0.92-0.98, I 2 = 26.4%, p = 0.002) and 11% (Pooled RR: 0.89, 95% CI: 0.84-0.95, I 2 = 15.0%, p < 0.001) reduction in overall cancer risk.
Also, each 10 μg/dL increase in blood levels of lycopene was associated with a 5% lower risk of overall cancer.
Moreover, we found a linear inverse association between dietary lycopene intake and prostate cancer risk (Pooled RR 0.99, 95% CI 0.97-1.00, I 2 = 0, p = 0.045).
In plain English: These findings suggest that HBO, especially when combined with LYC, may be an effective strategy to attenuate oxidative stress and inflammation and promote recovery following high-intensity exercise.
Xiang Y et al. · Nutrients (2026)
Compared with the control group, both intervention groups had significantly lower MDA, IL-6, TNF, CRP, CK, BU, and HR and higher superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) (all p < 0.05).
Compared with the HBO group, the HBO+LYC group showed significantly higher CAT and lower IL-6 and CK levels (all p < 0.05).
Conclusions: Both HBO alone and HBO+LYC effectively reduced oxidative stress, inflammation, and exercise-induced fatigue, as evidenced by decreased MDA, IL-6, TNF, CRP, CK, BU, and HR, along with increased SOD and CAT, T-AOC, and T.
In plain English: Furthermore, this review may support the design of future research by critically analyzing existing studies and highlighting inconsistencies and knowledge gaps.
Bajon A et al. · Nutrients (2026)
Among these, carotenoids, particularly lycopene, play a key role.
This review summarizes current knowledge on the nutritional value, composition, and functional properties of tomatoes.
It also addresses the antinutritional aspects of tomato compounds, as well as the influence of agrotechnical, environmental, and technological factors on the content of bioactive compounds.