Lycopene

Lycopene/Nutrient Depletion:

  • Alcohol (ethanol)Alcohol (ethanol): The serum concentrations of some carotenoids are influenced by alcohol consumption, and it has been theorized that lycopene may also be subject to this interaction. However, a study in 12 healthy, nonsmoking men found that the intake of red wine, beer, or spirits lacked significant effect on serum lycopene levels (92; 93).
  • Beta-caroteneBeta-carotene: There is conflicting evidence regarding the interaction of beta-carotene and lycopene. In human studies, concomitant ingestion of lycopene and beta-carotene has been reported to increase lycopene absorption (144; 145). Other investigations have found beta-carotene to have no effect on lycopene serum levels (146; 147; 148; 132; 149; 150). In human research, subjects receiving beta-carotene supplements had a reduced concentration of lycopene in an assay of LDL (151). The precise nature of this potential interaction is unclear.
  • LipidsLipids: In humans, lycopene and lycopene-rich foods reduced lipids (97; 63; 98; 69). According to human research, lycopene, lycopene-rich foods, and mixed-ingredient lycopene such as LycoRed? reduced lipids (97; 63; 98; 69; 166). In clinical research, treatment with two LycoRed? softules (each containing 2,000mcg of lycopene) daily for six months resulted in significant decreases in TC and LDL, as well as an increase in HDL; however, triglyceride levels lacked a significant change at three months, and each group increased significantly at six months (63).
  • NicotineNicotine: Conflicting evidence exists regarding the influence of cigarette smoking on lycopene levels (123; 124; 125; 126; 127). While this is inconsistent, it appears that lycopene serum concentrations, unlike other carotenoids, are not influenced by cigarette smoking (125; 128; 129; 118; 130; 92).
  • Probucol (available in Canada, not commercially available in the United States)Probucol (available in Canada, not commercially available in the United States): In clinical research, probucol administration was associated with a statistically significant decrease in serum carotenoid levels in 303 hypercholesterolemic patients (99). It is unclear if these changes in carotenoid levels were harmful, beneficial, or neither. Although supplementation with carotenoids such as lycopene may offset these observed reductions, the potential benefits of supplementation are unclear.