Recommended Lycopene Intakes

Average daily intake levels of lycopene range from 0.70 to 25.20 mg/day but 50% of North Americans consume < 1.86 mg/day of lycopene. Based on human research, recent recommendations for the daily intake of lycopene suggest 7 mg/day. At this level of intake, circulatory lycopene concentration is maintained at a level consistent with that shown to reduce lipid peroxidation and to result in other beneficial effects of lycopene. Health Claims Associated with Lycopene Emphasizing consumption of fruits and vegetables is part of the dietary guidelines recommended for the prevention of chronic diseases.33 Dietary benefits generally associated with increased plant food consumption include lower intakes of energy and fat, and higher intakes of fiber and micronutrients including phytochemicals such as lycopene but also phytosterols, flavonoids, indoles, isoflavones, isothiocyanates, lignans, phytates, soluble and insoluble fibers, terpenoids (saponins) and other carotenoids. The FDA has approved Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status to lycopene. Recently, the FDA has also given a limited health claim declaration for lycopene, stating “Very limited and preliminary scientific research suggests that eating one-half to one cup of tomatoes and/or tomato sauce a week may reduce the risk of prostate cancer.” However, FDA concludes that the evidence in support of lycopene in prostate cancer risk reduction is still not very strong and needs further research.

Conclusion

There is convincing evidence to suggest a causal link between oxidative stress and human chronic diseases. Antioxidants have been suggested as playing an important role in protecting cells and cellular components against oxidative damage. Lycopene is a potent antioxidant carotenoid present in tomatoes, tomato products and other fruits. However, it is not synthesized by animals and humans. Dietary sources and nutritional supplements constitute the major source of lycopene intake. The evidence in support of the role of lycopene in the prevention of chronic diseases is primarily epidemiological in nature up to this stage. However, tissue culture, animal experiments and more recently human intervention studies are providing convincing evidence in support of the epidemiological observations. Although the antioxidant properties of lycopene are considered to drive the major mechanism by which lycopene provides beneficial effects, other mechanisms are also being suggested. A daily intake of 7 mg of lycopene is currently recommended to maintain the circulatory levels of lycopene consistent with reduction in lipid peroxidation. Recent studies also suggest synergistic interactions between lycopene and other phytonutrients in tomatoes and tomato products leading to its beneficial effects. Future research addressing the bioavailability of lycopene, its mechanisms of action and its role in other important human chronic diseases is needed to fully understand the role of lycopene in human health and to take advantage of this important ‘nutraceutical’ product in the management of chronic diseases.