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Research · Supplements

Lycopene

A pooled analysis of four small studies found lycopene slightly raised sperm concentration, and no trial of lycopene alone has measured pregnancies. Supplement trials found no fewer prostate cancers. Higher lycopene in the diet or blood was linked to lower prostate cancer and stroke risk in observational studies. Blood pressure results disagree. Trials reported no adverse effects.

Add to Bio HackChecked 2026-11-13
Status
Dietary supplement in the US.
Also called
lycopene supplement, lactolycopene, tomato extract, tomato lycopene, LycoMato, carotenoid supplement
Taken for
sperm health, male fertility, sperm count, sperm motility, sperm shape, getting pregnant, prostate health, prostate cancer prevention, PSA, enlarged prostate, heart health, blood pressure, cholesterol, stroke, antioxidant

Strong several reviews agree · Moderate one review or consistent trials · Limited one or a few small studies · Untested no study in people, listed with what it rests on

Shown to help3

Reported risks2

What people take it for, and what was found

Shown to help3

ModerateStudied in men

Sperm count and semen quality

Shown in one pooled analysis of four small studies to raise sperm concentration slightly. Total and progressive motility, sperm shape and DNA damage did not change in the pooled data.

Compared with placebo, or the same men before supplementing in one uncontrolled study, across the four pooled studies [1]; placebo [2][3]; before supplementing, in the same men [4]

The numbers and sources
Effect
Across 4 studies of 151 men, lycopene raised sperm concentration (SMD 0.33, 95% CI 0.02 to 0.65) and nonprogressive motility (SMD 0.45, 95% CI 0.04 to 0.87). Total motility, progressive motility, normal or abnormal morphology, semen volume and DNA damage did not change [1]. In 44 men with low sperm counts, 12 weeks of lycopene raised total sperm count and concentration against placebo [2]. In 56 healthy young men, 12 weeks of lactolycopene did not change the primary outcome, motile sperm concentration (p = 0.058), and raised the share of fast progressive sperm (p = 0.006) and normally shaped sperm (p < 0.001) against placebo [3]. In an uncontrolled study of 30 infertile men, concentration rose in 20 (66%) and motility in 16 (53%) after 3 months [4].
Population
151 men in 4 studies, healthy or infertile, aged on average 23 to 38 [1]; 44 infertile men with oligozoospermia [2]; 60 healthy men randomized, 56 completing [3]; 30 men with idiopathic infertility [4].
Sources
[1], [2], [3], [4]
Caveats
Four small studies, one without a control group [4]. The pooled analysis noted publication bias and methodological heterogeneity [1]. The trials disagree on which measures changed: the healthy-men trial found shape and fast motility improved and the pooled analysis did not [1][3]. Semen measures are not pregnancies.
StrongStudied in men

Prostate cancer risk with lycopene from food

Linked to about 12% lower prostate cancer risk with higher lycopene intake or blood levels in pooled observational studies. No link was found for advanced prostate cancer.

Compared with men with the lowest dietary intake or blood level of lycopene [7][8]

The numbers and sources
Effect
Across 42 studies with 43,851 prostate cancer cases among 692,012 participants, higher dietary intake (RR 0.88, 95% CI 0.78 to 0.98) and higher blood lycopene (RR 0.88, 95% CI 0.79 to 0.98) were linked to lower prostate cancer risk. Risk fell 1% for each additional 2 mg of dietary lycopene a day. Advanced prostate cancer was not linked (aggressive cancer RR 0.74, 95% CI 0.55 to 1.00) [7]. Across 26 studies with 17,517 cases among 563,299 participants, the link with intake did not reach significance overall (p = 0.078) and did after removing one study or using only high-quality studies. Higher blood lycopene was linked to lower risk [8].
Population
Men in cohort and case-control studies [7][8].
Sources
[7], [8]
Caveats
Observational. This is lycopene from food, mostly tomatoes, and blood levels, not supplements. Men who eat more tomato products may differ in diet and health in other ways, and tomatoes contain other compounds [8]. Supplement trials did not find fewer cancers [6].
Moderate

Stroke and heart disease, lycopene from food

Linked to 26% lower stroke risk and 14% lower cardiovascular disease risk with the highest lycopene intake or blood levels in pooled observational studies. Heart attack was not linked.

Compared with people in the lowest intake or blood level category [15]

The numbers and sources
Effect
Across 25 studies, people with the highest lycopene intake or blood levels had lower risk of stroke (HR 0.74, 95% CI 0.62 to 0.89) and cardiovascular disease (HR 0.86, 95% CI 0.77 to 0.95). The highest blood levels were linked to lower mortality (HR 0.63, 95% CI 0.49 to 0.81). Myocardial infarction was not significantly linked [15].
Population
Adults in longitudinal and cross-sectional studies [15].
Sources
[15]
Caveats
Observational, mostly lycopene from food and blood levels, not supplements. People with high lycopene intake may eat more vegetables and differ in other ways.

Mixed results2

ModerateStudied in men

PSA levels

Mixed results: one review of two trials in men with prostate cancer found lower PSA, while a later review of six trials found no change.

Compared with placebo or other interventions [6]; control groups in randomized trials [9]

The numbers and sources
Effect
In 2 trials in men with prostate cancer, PSA was 1.58 ng/mL lower with lycopene (95% CI -2.61 to -0.55) [6]. Across 6 RCTs, PSA did not differ with lycopene or tomato extract containing lycopene (WMD -0.12 ng/mL, 95% CI -0.62 to 0.38) [9].
Population
Men with prostate cancer [6]; men in 6 randomized trials of lycopene or tomato extract [9].
Sources
[6], [9]
Caveats
Small numbers of trials. PSA is a marker, not a cancer outcome. The later review pooled lycopene with tomato extract [9].
Moderate

Blood pressure

Mixed results: two reviews found lycopene lowered systolic pressure by about 5 mmHg, while two others found no consistent effect from lycopene itself.

Compared with placebo or control groups in intervention trials [10][11]; control groups in dietary and supplement trials [12]; placebo, by product type [13]

The numbers and sources
Effect
Across 6 studies, lycopene lowered systolic pressure by 4.95 mmHg (95% CI -8.82 to -1.09, I² 58.5%), with larger drops above 12 mg a day and in people with systolic pressure over 120 mmHg. Diastolic pressure did not change significantly (-3.81 mmHg, 95% CI -8.18 to 0.56) [10]. A review of 21 trials found lycopene supplements lowered systolic pressure by 5.66 mmHg [11]. A review of 43 dietary and supplement trials found no difference from control in blood pressure [12]. A network meta-analysis of 11 trials found a standardized tomato extract lowered systolic pressure by 5.89 mmHg against placebo (95% CI -9.13 to -2.64), while synthetic lycopene and other tomato forms showed no consistent effect [13].
Population
Adults in intervention trials, some with high blood pressure [10][11][12]; 617 adults in 8 trials for systolic pressure [13].
Sources
[10], [11], [12], [13]
Caveats
Trials were small and varied in dose and form, and the reductions concentrated in one tomato extract product rather than lycopene alone [13]. One review did not report confidence intervals in its abstract [11].

Not shown to help3

Limited

Pregnancy and live birth

One trial of an antioxidant combination that included lycopene found no more live births than placebo. No trial has tested lycopene alone for pregnancy or live birth.

Compared with placebo, for a combination of seven antioxidants that included lycopene [5]; no comparison group, in an uncontrolled study [4]

The numbers and sources
Effect
In 171 couples with male factor infertility, the man taking an antioxidant combination (vitamins C and E, selenium, L-carnitine, zinc, folic acid and lycopene) for 3 to 6 months did not raise cumulative live birth against placebo (15% against 24%). Sperm motility, morphology and DNA fragmentation did not differ, and sperm concentration changed by a median of -4.0 million/mL on antioxidants and +2.4 million/mL on placebo [5]. In an uncontrolled study, 6 pregnancies occurred among the 26 men without severe oligospermia (23%) after 3 months of lycopene [4].
Population
174 men with abnormal semen or high DNA fragmentation and their ovulating partners, at 9 US fertility centers [5]; 30 men with idiopathic infertility [4].
Sources
[5], [4]
Caveats
The trial tested a mixture, so lycopene's own effect cannot be separated, and it was limited by sample size [5]. The pregnancy count without a control group cannot show what lycopene added [4].
ModerateStudied in men

Prostate cancer and enlarged prostate, supplement trials

Not shown to lower the number of men diagnosed with prostate cancer or an enlarged prostate in a review of randomized trials.

Compared with placebo or other interventions [6]

The numbers and sources
Effect
In a meta-analysis of 4 RCTs, the rate of prostate cancer diagnosis (RR 0.92, 95% CI 0.66 to 1.29) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (RR 0.95, 95% CI 0.63 to 1.44) did not differ between men given lycopene and the comparison group [6].
Population
Men in 8 RCTs of lycopene for prostate disease, 4 of them pooled for diagnosis rates [6].
Sources
[6]
Caveats
Trials were few and varied in design. Three were rated at high risk of bias, two at low and three unclear [6].
Moderate

Cholesterol and triglycerides

Not shown to change LDL or total cholesterol or triglycerides. Reviews disagree on HDL cholesterol, with one finding a small rise and another no change.

Compared with control groups in tomato and lycopene trials [11]; control groups in dietary and supplement trials [12]; control groups in lycopene trials [14]

The numbers and sources
Effect
In a review of 21 trials, lycopene supplements did not significantly change blood lipids, while tomato products lowered LDL cholesterol by 0.22 mmol/L [11]. Across 43 trials, total, LDL and HDL cholesterol and triglycerides did not differ from control, including in people with high baseline levels [12]. Across 12 trial arms (781 people), HDL cholesterol rose with lycopene (SMD 0.33, 95% CI 0.12 to 0.54, I² 45%), and triglycerides did not differ across 11 studies (854 people) [14].
Population
Adults in intervention trials [11][12][14].
Sources
[11], [12], [14]
Caveats
Doses ranged from 1.44 to 75 mg a day and were unreported in 11 of 43 trials [12]. Food-based and supplement trials were pooled together in two reviews [12][14].

Doses studied

Sperm studies used 2 to 30 mg a day for 3 months [1]: 14 mg a day of lactolycopene for 12 weeks [3], 25 mg a day for 12 weeks [2] and 2 mg twice a day [4]. The antioxidant combination trial included 10 mg of lycopene a day for 3 to 6 months [5]. Blood pressure trials ranged widely, and the larger systolic drops in one review came from doses above 12 mg a day [10]. Across cardiovascular trials, doses ran from 1.44 to 75 mg a day [12].

Risks

Reported risks2

LimitedHow often is not known

Orange skin with very high intake (carotenoderma)

Case reports: very high intake of lycopene-rich foods turned skin yellow-orange, described as harmless.

The numbers and sources
How common
How often is not known: the sources give no rate.
Effect
A case report describes yellow-orange skin from high blood lycopene after excessive intake of lycopene-rich vegetables and fruit, with lycopene deposited in the outer skin layer. The authors describe the condition as benign [16]. A second case report attributes carotenoderma to excessive watermelon and red grapefruit consumption [17].
Population
Single patients [16][17].
Sources
[16], [17]
Caveats
Case reports from food, not supplements, with no rate.
LimitedHow often is not known

Lycopene content different from the label

One analysis of lycopene supplements found measured content up to 70% above the label, and a pesticide not approved in the EU in one product.

The numbers and sources
How common
How often is not known: the sources give no rate.
Effect
In commercially available lycopene supplements, measured lycopene differed from the declared amount, up to 70% above label claims by HPLC. One supplement contained methomyl (0.059 mg/kg), below the maximum residue limit. Heavy metals met regulatory limits and microbiological quality was satisfactory [18].
Population
Commercial lycopene supplements tested in a laboratory [18].
Sources
[18]
Caveats
A preliminary study of a limited set of products from one market [18].

Checked, no increase found1

Limited

Adverse effects in trials

Small trials reported no adverse events with lycopene over about 3 months.

The numbers and sources
How common
How often is not known: the sources give no rate.
Effect
In a 12-week trial, no adverse events were reported by any participant on lactolycopene or placebo [3]. In an uncontrolled 3-month study, all 30 men completed without complications [4].
Population
60 healthy men [3]; 30 infertile men [4].
Sources
[3], [4]
Caveats
Small, short trials that were not designed to detect uncommon harms.

Claims tested and not found

  1. That lycopene supplements prevent prostate cancer. In 4 pooled trials, prostate cancer diagnoses did not differ from the comparison group (RR 0.92, 95% CI 0.66 to 1.29) [6].
  2. That lycopene supplements lower PSA. Across 6 RCTs, PSA did not differ from control (WMD -0.12 ng/mL, 95% CI -0.62 to 0.38) [9].
  3. That lycopene lowers cholesterol. Across 43 trials, total and LDL cholesterol did not differ from control [12].
  4. That an antioxidant combination including lycopene raises live births when the man takes it. Live birth was 15% on antioxidants and 24% on placebo [5].

Sources

  1. Viña I, Viña JR. Association of Lycopene and Male Reproductive Health: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2025. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26157224
  2. Nouri M, Amani R, Nasr-Esfahani M, Tarrahi MJ. The effects of lycopene supplement on the spermatogram and seminal oxidative stress in infertile men: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Phytotherapy Research. 2019. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.6493
  3. Williams EA, Parker M, Robinson A, Pitt S, Pacey AA. A randomized placebo-controlled trial to investigate the effect of lactolycopene on semen quality in healthy males. European Journal of Nutrition. 2020. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-019-02091-5
  4. Gupta NP, Kumar R. Lycopene therapy in idiopathic male infertility: a preliminary report. International Urology and Nephrology. 2002. https://doi.org/10.1023/a:1024483520560
  5. Steiner AZ, Hansen KR, Barnhart KT, et al. The effect of antioxidants on male factor infertility: the Males, Antioxidants, and Infertility (MOXI) randomized clinical trial. Fertility and Sterility. 2020. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2019.11.008
  6. Ilic D, Misso M. Lycopene for the prevention and treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer: A systematic review. Maturitas. 2012. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.maturitas.2012.04.014
  7. Rowles JL, Ranard KM, Smith JW, et al. Increased dietary and circulating lycopene are associated with reduced prostate cancer risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases. 2017. https://doi.org/10.1038/pcan.2017.25
  8. Chen P, Zhang W, Wang X, et al. Lycopene and Risk of Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Medicine. 2015. https://doi.org/10.1097/md.0000000000001260
  9. Sharifi-Zahabi E, Soltani S, Malekahmadi M, et al. The effect of lycopene supplement from different sources on prostate specific antigen (PSA): A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Complementary Therapies in Medicine. 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2022.102801
  10. Li X, Xu J. Lycopene Supplement and Blood Pressure: An Updated Meta-Analysis of Intervention Trials. Nutrients. 2013. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu5093696
  11. Cheng HM, Koutsidis G, Lodge JK, et al. Tomato and lycopene supplementation and cardiovascular risk factors: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Atherosclerosis. 2017. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2017.01.009
  12. Tierney AC, Rumble CE, Billings LM, George ES. Effect of Dietary and Supplemental Lycopene on Cardiovascular Risk Factors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Advances in Nutrition. 2020. https://doi.org/10.1093/advances/nmaa069
  13. Rattanavipanon W, Nithiphongwarakul C, Sirisuwansith P, et al. Effect of tomato, lycopene and related products on blood pressure: A systematic review and network meta-analysis. Phytomedicine. 2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2021.153512
  14. Inoue T, Yoshida K, Sasaki E, et al. Effects of lycopene intake on HDL-cholesterol and triglyceride levels: A systematic review with meta-analysis. Journal of Food Science. 2021. https://doi.org/10.1111/1750-3841.15833
  15. Cheng HM, Koutsidis G, Lodge JK, et al. Lycopene and tomato and risk of cardiovascular diseases: A systematic review and meta-analysis of epidemiological evidence. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition. 2019. https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2017.1362630
  16. Tanaka A, Miyauchi T, Kitamura S, et al. Carotenoderma due to lycopenemia: A case report and evaluation of lycopene deposition in the skin. The Journal of Dermatology. 2022. https://doi.org/10.1111/1346-8138.16537
  17. Rudd EC, Merika EE. Carotenoderma caused by excessive watermelon and red grapefruit consumption. Clinical and Experimental Dermatology. 2020. https://doi.org/10.1111/ced.14315
  18. Sikorska-Zimny K, Miszczak A, Popińska W, et al. Preliminary Quality and Safety Evaluation of Lycopene-Based Dietary Supplements: Analysis of Active Compound Content, Microbiological Purity, and Chemical Contaminants. Foods. 2026. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods15091583

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