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Question:
Recently I have seen lycopene products being touted for their anticancer and antioxidant properties. Are these claims valid?
Answer:
Yes, but it is much better to get meaningful levels of lycopene from foods. Lycopene is a "red-colored" carotene found in many fruits and vegetables, particularly tomatoes. Commercially available lycopene supplements are actually tomato extracts. Unlike beta-carotene the body cannot turn lycopene into vitamin A. While beta-carotene has received most of the attention, many carotenes that either have low or no vitamin A activity exert much greater antioxidant effects compared to beta-carotene. Studies have shown lycopene to exhibit antioxidant effects roughly double that of beta-carotene. Furthermore, lycopene exerts even more impressive anti-cancer effects. In addition, studies are showing a high intake of lycopene offers significant protection against heart disease, strokes, and macular degeneration.
Although lycopene supplements are entering the marketplace, they are relatively expensive, especially when you compare them to food sources. A one-ounce serving of tomato paste typically provides 16 mg of lycopene.
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