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What Are the Benefits of Lycopene?

Jun 30, 2010 | By Traci Vandermark
What Are the Benefits of Lycopene?
Photo Credit Tomatoes and tomato juice image by Ella from Fotolia.com

Lycopene is a carotenoid compound that gives color to fruits such as grapefruit and pomegranates. The highest concentration of lycopene is found in tomatoes and tomato products, according to the June 2000 issue of the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition," which is why these products have been included in most scientific studies on lycopene's health benefits. Lycopene is also available as a dietary supplement. Before adding any supplement to your routine, speak to your physician, especially if you are currently being treated for any medical condition.

Anticancer Benefits

Lycopene has been shown to have anticancer benefits, according to a report published in the November 2006 issue of "Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care." In this report, researchers from the University of Bonn in Germany reviewed numerous studies on the effects of lycopene against cancer cells. They concluded that consuming a single serving of a tomato based product, or tomatoes, can help protect the body from DNA damage, which is involved in the disease process of cancer, particularly prostate cancer. One mechanism by which lycopene may prevent cancer is explained by researchers at Fu-Jen Catholic University in Taiwan. They report in the November 2007 issue of "Biochemical Society Transactions" that lycopene interferes with the interaction of tumor cells and stromal cells, which are the cells in connective tissue. This action can help prevent tumors from developing and growing. The American Heart Association adds a word of advice on consuming tomato products for lycopene's health benefits. If you are choosing canned products, opt for low sodium products, otherwise the excess sodium can counter the beneficial effects of the lycopene. It is important to note that the American Cancer Society reports that several studies show no correlation between lycopene and a decreased cancer risk.

Heart Benefits

When ingested into the body, lycopene is deposited into tissues in the lungs, liver, colon, adrenal glands and prostate, according to a report from Florida State University. When it comes to heart benefits, a study in the June 2000 issue of the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" reports that lycopene may play a role in preventing heart disease and that risks of heart problems are much lower in those who have higher concentrations of lycopene in adipose tissue. (see ref. 1) When researchers at the University of Delhi in India compiled a list of natural products to help prevent heart disease, lycopene and tomato based products was listed in the top five. Their research, published in the May 2010 issue of "Natural Product Research," suggests that based on numerous reviewed studies, lycopene is one of the products that could have therapeutic potential.

Antioxidant Benefits

A free radical is a molecule that has an unpaired electron, as explained by the National Cancer Institute. To make up for this loss, the free radical will steal an electron from a healthy molecule, which causes damage. The now damaged molecule will go and steal an electron from another molecule, and the cycle will keep going until there is a line of damaged cells in the body. Free radical damage is associated with several diseases including heart disease and cancer, according to the National Institutes of Health. This is where lycopene's antioxidant benefits come in. The NCI explains that an antioxidant is a compound that fights oxidative damage by stabilizing free radicals and preventing damage to healthy cells. Lycopene is a member of the carotenoid family of antioxidants.

References

Article reviewed by David Fisher Last updated on: Jun 30, 2010

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