Lycopene
Summary
Lycopene is the red carotenoid in tomatoes. In a 2017 pooled analysis, lycopene supplements lowered systolic blood pressure by about 5.7 mm Hg, but a larger 2023 analysis of 34 trials found no clear effect on blood pressure, cholesterol or inflammation. A 2-month trial improved blood-vessel function in heart patients only. Evidence is small and inconsistent.
Key facts
- A red carotenoid pigment from tomatoes; trials have tested tomato products and lycopene supplements[1]
- 21 trials of tomato or lycopene: lycopene supplements lowered systolic pressure by 5.66 mm Hg; tomato products lowered LDL cholesterol[1]
- 34 trials: lycopene and tomato did not significantly change blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, CRP or weight; only an oxidative-stress marker (MDA) fell[2]
- 7 mg/day for 2 months improved endothelial function in heart patients on statins but not in healthy volunteers[3]
- 1 graded human outcome on this page
- October 11, 2026
How it works
ProposedLycopene is an antioxidant carotenoid; lower oxidative stress is the proposed route to vascular effects, which human trials have not consistently shown.[2][3]
What the human research says
Human trials only, one row per outcome. The form column shows what each trial actually tested. Grades follow our evidence-grading policy.
| Outcome | Effect | Grade | Best evidence | PMID |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Endothelial function (forearm blood flow) | Mixed | Grade C | RCT · n = 72 · 2014 36 statin-treated adults with cardiovascular disease and 36 healthy volunteers Form: Lycopene capsules · Dose: 7 mg/day · Duration: 2 months Endothelium-dependent vasodilation improved 53% versus placebo in heart patients, with no change in healthy volunteers; blood pressure, arterial stiffness, lipids and hsCRP did not change in either group. | 24911964 (opens PubMed)Source [3] |
Forms
| Form | Elemental % | Absorption (human data) | GI tolerance | Studied for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato lycopene extract (capsules or beadlets) | Varies | No head-to-head human absorption data in the sources cited here. | No adverse effects on blood lipids or hsCRP at 7 mg/day for 2 months.[3] | Blood-vessel and cardiovascular risk-factor trials |
Studied doses
Doses studied in human trials ranged from 7 mg of lycopene per day for 2 months in the vascular trial cited here to varied doses in the pooled trials, which did not report a single range.[3][1]
Interactions
Published interactions only: each row cites a source. No row means none was found in our sources, not that a combination is safe.
None found in our sources.
Who should be careful
- Anyone expecting a reliable blood-pressure drop
- Two meta-analyses disagree: one found lower systolic pressure, the larger and newer one found no significant effect.[1][2]
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Supplement doses were not studied in these groups in the trials cited here.[3]
Talk to your pharmacist or clinician before starting a supplement, especially if you take prescription medicines.
Where to buy Lycopene
Products from brands we partner with that contain Lycopene. Listing a product is not a claim that it works; check the amount per serving against the doses studied above, and the label for other ingredients.
- SupersmartPaid linkLycopene2 capsules: 30 mg lycopene (LycoBeads tomato extract); 45 servings. That is above the 7 mg/day used in the vascular trial cited here, and pooled trials disagree on any blood-pressure benefit.Shop at Supersmart (opens in new tab)Price and label checked 2026-10-11 on the brand’s site.
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Frequently asked questions
Does lycopene lower blood pressure?
Evidence conflicts: a 2017 meta-analysis found systolic pressure 5.66 mm Hg lower with lycopene supplements, but a 2023 analysis of 34 trials found no significant change.[1][2]
Does lycopene lower cholesterol?
Tomato products lowered LDL in one pooled analysis; the newer analysis found no significant effect of lycopene or tomato on cholesterol.[1][2]
Is a tomato better than a capsule?
The pooled trials tested both; tomato products, not lycopene capsules, were the ones linked to lower LDL and better blood-vessel function in the 2017 analysis.[1]
How much lycopene did trials use?
The vascular trial cited here used 7 mg/day for 2 months.[3]
Sources
- [1]Tomato and lycopene supplementation and cardiovascular risk factors: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Atherosclerosis, 2017. meta-analysis
- [2]The Effects of Lycopene and Tomato Consumption on Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Adults: A Grade Assessment Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Curr Pharm Des, 2023. meta-analysis
- [3]Effects of oral lycopene supplementation on vascular function in patients with cardiovascular disease and healthy volunteers: a randomised controlled trial. PLoS One, 2014. RCT
What changed
- New monograph. Every PMID checked against NCBI E-utilities (title, journal and year from the PubMed record); each evidence row written from its abstract; intake and safety facts from the cited fact sheets.