Encyclopedia of Health and Medicine

80 Alternative and Complementary Approaches
occur in cooked tomatoes and tomato products
such as tomato soup, tomato sauce, and ketchup.
Most studies investigating the effects of lycopene
involved consuming high amounts of foods containing
lycopene, notably cooked tomato products.
The findings seem to substantiate lycopene’s role
in inhibiting the growth of cancer cells, particularly
prostate cancer cells. However, few research
studies have evaluated lycopene supplements.
Because tomatoes contain numerous nutrients, it
is difficult to assess the effects of only one.
Most doctors agree that while there is likely little
harm to come of taking lycopene supplements,
there is not enough evidence to recommend doing
so except as an adjunctive therapy (in addition to
other therapeutic approaches). Men who have
prostate disease or PROSTATE CANCER may benefit
from increasing their consumption of foods containing
cooked tomatoes. Excessive ingestion of
lycopene and other carotenoids can cause the
palms of the hands and the soles of the feet to
turn dark yellow or orange, a temporary circumstance
that returns to normal when carotenoid
levels drop after stopping or reducing the supplement.
There are no other known risks or side
effects when using lycopene, though taking penicillin-based
ANTIBIOTIC MEDICATIONS may decrease
the amount of lycopene absorbed into the bloodstream
from the gastrointestinal tract.
LYCOPENE
Uses Risks/Side Effects Interactions
prevent or slow excessive amounts may none known
PROSTATE CANCER turn the palms and
possibly protect soles of the feet
against LUNG orange or dark yellow
CANCER
preserve retinal
function
See also AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION
(ARMD); BILBERRY; CATARACT EXTRACTION AND REPLACE-
MENT; RETINOPATHY; SAW PALMETTO; VISION IMPAIRMENT;
YOHIMBE/YOHIMBINE.