antioxidant
Lycopene
What it’s good for
Lycopene for Chronic Inflammation
Mixed4 studies · 3 supporting · 1 against
A strong antioxidant. Less oxidative stress is thought to mean less inflammatory signalling.
Dose: 7–50 mg
Tested as: ranges from 7 mg/day supplement for 2 months, to whole-diet interventions providing roughly 32-50 mg/day (224-350 mg/week) for weeks, in healthy or moderately overweight middle-aged adults and in cardiovascular-disease patients
Lycopene for Slow Recovery
Evidence1 study · 1 supporting · 0 against
An antioxidant, so the theory is it blunts the damage hard downhill running does to muscle.
Dose: 11 mg
Tested as: tomato-extract complex providing 11 mg lycopene (plus phytoene and phytofluene) daily for 4 weeks before a 2-hour high-intensity run with downhill sections, in trained runners
Lycopene for Prostate Symptoms
No Benefit1 study · 0 supporting · 1 against
How it was tested: Eight trials, too different from each other to pool. The reviewers called the evidence insufficient.
An antioxidant thought to cut the oxidative stress and growth signals in prostate tissue.
Dose: 15–30 mg
Tested as: Lycopene (tomato-derived carotenoid), commonly 15 mg/day in trials examining BPH progression/PSA, though preparations and co-formulations vary widely across the literature.
Lycopene for Blurry Vision
Not verifiedWhy it gets suggested: An antioxidant, so the theory is it shields the retina — like lutein is meant to.
Why we could not verify it: We have not found research on this that we would stand behind. People take it for this, so the claim is here rather than hidden.
Lycopene for Chronic Fatigue
Not verifiedWhy it gets suggested: Antioxidant support for mitochondria — unproven for tiredness specifically.
Why we could not verify it: We have not found research on this that we would stand behind. People take it for this, so the claim is here rather than hidden.