Lycopene
CaroMxâ„¢ | Lycopene
Lycopene, a powerful carotenoid antioxidant, is the cornerstone of Q-Line Nutra’s commitment to delivering superior nutraceutical solutions. Found in red and pink fruits and vegetables, such as tomatoes and watermelons, Lycopene is celebrated for its health-promoting properties, especially in supporting cellular health and combating oxidative stress.
Food & Beverage Industry
Nutraceuticals
Heart Health
Prostate Health
Cancer Prevention
Antioxidant
Eye Health
Bone Health
Quick Facts
Role
- Bone Health: Stimulates osteoblast (bone-building) activity and inhibits bone resorption, helping prevent osteoporosis.
- Anti-Inflammatory Effects: Inhibits key inflammatory pathways (like NF-κB) and reduces circulating pro-inflammatory cytokines.
- Metabolic Health: Improves insulin sensitivity and helps regulate blood glucose levels.
- Vascular Function: Enhances nitric oxide production in blood vessels, improving endothelial function and circulation.
- Lung Health: Protects lung tissue against environmental toxins, cigarette smoke, and pollution-induced oxidative damage.
- Cancer Defense: Regulates cell cycle progression and induces apoptosis (programmed cell death) in damaged or abnormal cells.
- Liver Protection: Reduces hepatic fat accumulation and protects against non-alcoholic fatty liver conditions.
Sources
- Cooked / Processed Tomatoes: Tomato paste, purée, ketchup, canned tomato sauce, and sundried tomatoes (heating breaks down cell walls, making lycopene significantly more bioavailable).
- Fresh Tomatoes: Raw red tomatoes and cherry tomatoes.
- Watermelon: One of the highest raw natural sources of lycopene per serving.
- Pink & Red Grapefruit: Rich source among citrus fruits.
- Papaya: High in lycopene along with other carotenoids.
- Guava: Especially the pink and red varieties.
- Rose Hips: Concentrated botanical source derived from rose plants.
- Red Bell Peppers: Contains moderate amounts along with high levels of Vitamin C.
- Persimmons & Apricots: Fresh or dried varieties contribute smaller amounts.
- Gac Fruit: A Southeast Asian fruit with extremely high natural concentrations of carotenoids.
Intake
- General Daily Maintenance: 8 to 20 mg per day from food or dietary supplements is commonly recommended for overall antioxidant support and general health.
- Prostate & Heart Health Support: Clinical studies targeting specific health conditions typically use higher doses ranging from 15 to 30 mg per day.
- Dietary Equivalent: Consuming approximately 1 medium fresh tomato, 1 cup of watermelon, or 2 tablespoons of tomato paste provides about 10 to 15 mg of natural lycopene.
- No Official RDA: There is no official Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) set by health authorities, as lycopene is considered a non-essential bioactive phytonutrient.
- Upper Safe Limit: The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) established an Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) of 0.5 mg per kg of body weight per day from all sources, which equals roughly 35 mg per day for an average adult.
- Enhancing Absorption: Because lycopene is fat-soluble, consuming it alongside healthy dietary fats (e.g., olive oil, avocado, or nuts) dramatically increases intestinal absorption.
- Safety & Excess: Lycopene is considered non-toxic. Extremely high long-term intake can cause lycopenodermia, a harmless, reversible deep-orange discoloration of the skin.
Role
Essential for vision, cell growth and differentiation, reproduce total development and maintain healthy & skin and mucus membrane.
Sources
A rich source of essential vitamins and minerals can be found in fresh, colorful fruits & vegetables.
Intake
According to ICMR guidelines, the recommended dietary allowance of Vitamin A for adults is approximately 700–900 micrograms.
FAQs on CaroMXâ„¢ | Lycopene
What is Lycopene?
- Class: Naturally occurring red carotenoid hydrocarbon pigment found in red/pink fruits.
- Vitamin A Activity: Lacks a terminal beta-ring, meaning it does not convert to Vitamin A in the body.
- Primary Function: Operates as a potent lipid-soluble antioxidant to neutralize singlet oxygen and free radicals.
What are the primary dietary sources of lycopene?
- Processed Tomatoes: Tomato paste, puree, ketchup, and canned tomato sauce (highest concentration and bioavailability).
- Fresh Fruits: Watermelon, pink guava, papaya, pink grapefruit, and red bell peppers.
Is cooked tomato better than raw tomato for lycopene absorption?
- Cell Wall Breakdown: Thermal processing ruptures tough plant cell structures to release trapped lycopene.
- Isomeric Shift: Heat converts linear trans-lycopene into flexible cis-lycopene, which is more readily absorbed by human intestinal cells.
- Fat Synergy: Consuming cooked tomatoes alongside healthy dietary fats (e.g., olive oil) significantly enhances lymphatic absorption.
What are the key health benefits of lycopene?
- Prostate Health: Accumulates in prostate tissue to combat oxidative stress and support healthy cellular proliferation.
- Cardiovascular Support: Reduces lipid peroxidation, inhibits LDL oxidation, and aids in maintaining endothelial vascular function.
- Dermal UV Defense: Acts as a systemic photoprotectant by mitigating free radical damage induced by sun exposure.
What is the recommended daily dosage?
- No Official DRI: Regulatory authorities have not set a formal Daily Recommended Intake.
- Clinical Ranges: Interventional studies typically utilize 10 mg to 30 mg per day for targeted cardiovascular and prostate support.
- Â
How is lycopene formulated for supplements?
Source Material: Sourced from natural tomato oleoresins (Solanum lycopersicum), fungal fermentation (Blakeslea trispora), or chemical synthesis.
Delivery Formats: Marketed in oil-filled softgels, cold-water-dispersible (CWD) powders, microencapsulated beadlets, and liposomal complexes to prevent light and air oxidation.
- Â
Are there any side effects or safety concerns?
- High Safety Profile: Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) with no systemic toxicity reported at standard doses.
- Lycopenodermia: Excessive long-term intake can cause a harmless, fully reversible orange-red skin discoloration.
