Key result
Lycopene intake increases flow-mediated dilation by ~1.4% in healthy adults versus control.
Why the study?
Vascular endothelial dysfunction is an early cardiovascular disease marker, and lycopene may improve endothelial function, but its effects in healthy adults required systematic evaluation.
Does oral intake of lycopene-containing products improve flow-mediated dilation in healthy adults?
Meta-Analysis (n=182)
Does oral intake of lycopene-containing products improve flow-mediated dilation in healthy adults?
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Captured external expert commentary on this paper, strongest first. Original sources are linked where available.
“The conclusion that “lycopene intake improves vascular endothelial function” is stronger than the evidence permits. Most included FMD studies used complex food matrices such as tomato paste, tomato puree, tomato juice, or watermelon juice. These products contain other potentially bioactive compounds... Therefore, the evidence does not isolate lycopene as the causal factor.”
“Health-claim and prevention language should be moderated. The manuscript refers to cardiovascular disease prevention and suggests functional benefits of lycopene. However, the review evaluates surrogate endothelial-function outcomes, not cardiovascular events, disease prevention, or long-term clinical outcomes.”
“Dose-duration conclusions are too speculative. The statement that beneficial effects are achieved by taking at least 15 mg lycopene for 12 weeks is based on very limited evidence and appears strongly dependent on one study. Dose-response conclusions should be presented as hypotheses, not as evidence-based thresholds.”
Continuous intake of lycopene-containing products significantly improves flow-mediated dilation in healthy adults, suggesting a potential benefit for vascular endothelial function, though the pooled result is heavily dependent on a single trial.
Background/Objectives: Vascular endothelial dysfunction is an early marker of cardiovascular disease. Lycopene, a naturally red carotenoid with strong antioxidant activity, may improve vascular endothelial function. This systematic review and meta-analysis examined lycopene’s effects on vascular endothelial function in healthy adults in the context of cardiovascular risk assessment. Methods: In June 2026, we searched four literature databases (Ichushi-Web, PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Global Index Medicus), three clinical trial registries (International Clinical Trial Registry Platform, ClinicalTrials.gov, and University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry), and notification information for Foods with Function Claims, using peer-reviewed search strategies. We extracted human intervention studies assessing oral lycopene intake and vascular endothelial function. Two authors independently selected eligible studies and assessed the risk of bias. Data were pooled as mean differences (MDs) and analyzed using a random-effects model. The protocol was registered in the University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN000058348). Results: Six studies were included in this systematic review. A meta-analysis of four continuous (≥7 days) lycopene-containing product intake studies measuring flow-mediated dilation (FMD) (n = 182) revealed a significant increase in FMD (MD = 1.36, 95% confidence interval: 0.20, 2.51, p = 0.02). The certainty of the evidence across the four studies was limited and moderate. One study not included in the meta-analysis showed that 15 mg of lycopene intake for 8 weeks significantly increased the reactive hyperemia peripheral arterial tonometry index. Conclusions: This systematic review/meta-analysis with limited and moderate certainty evidence suggests that the continuous intake of lycopene-containing products may have beneficial effects on vascular endothelial function in healthy adults. However, the findings were derived from a small-scale meta-analysis in which the result was no longer statistically significant after the exclusion of one study.
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Yoshida et al. (2026) conducted a meta-analysis in Healthy adults (n=182). Lycopene-containing products vs. Placebo, extremely low concentration of lycopene, or no intervention was evaluated on Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) (MD 1.36, 95% CI 0.20, 2.51, p=0.02). Continuous intake of lycopene-containing products significantly increased flow-mediated dilation by a mean difference of 1.36 in healthy adults compared to control.
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