Some studies suggest that supplements containing lycopene may help prevent macular degeneration, cataracts, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant carotenoid and the pigment that gives tomatoes, watermelon, and pink grapefruit their characteristic red color. Clinical studies have indicated that Lycopene works through a number of mechanisms to support cardiovascular health and immune function. In addition, epidemiological studies have determined that Lycopene may be particularly important for the support of prostate health, as well as for the health of the digestive tract.

Helps Prevent:

• Macular Degeneration
• Cataracts
• Cardiovascular Disease
• Cancers of many kinds
• Preeclampsia
• Leukoplakia

The best study of lycopene thus far evaluated its possible benefits for pregnant women. Participants in this double-blind study of 251 women received either placebo or 2 mg of lycopene twice daily. For reasons that are not at all clear, use of lycopene appeared to reduce risk of preeclampsia, a dangerous complication of pregnancy. In addition, use of lycopene appeared to help prevent inadequate growth of the fetus. However despite these promising results researchers are cautious about drawing conclusions: several other nutritional substances have shown promise for preventing preeclampsia in preliminary trials only to fail when larger and more definitive studies were done.

Lycopene has also shown promise for leukoplakia, a precancerous condition of the mouth and other mucous membranes. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 58 people with oral leukoplakia received either 8 mg oral lycopene daily, 4 mg daily, or placebo capsules for three months. Participants were then followed for an additional two months. The results indicated that lycopene in either dose was more effective than placebo for reducing signs and symptoms of leukoplakia, and that 8 mg daily was more effective than 4 mg.