Lycopene for heart and bone health during menopause? Original paper

In this randomized controlled trial, supplementation with lycopene improved lycopene levels and markers of bone turnover but also increased triglyceride levels in menopausal participants.

This Study Summary was published on August 23, 2022.

Background

Lycopene is the predominant carotenoid found in human plasma. It has potent antioxidant properties and has been inversely associated with various cancers, chronic disease, and osteoporosis.[1][2][3]

The study

This 6-month multicenter randomized controlled trial included 100 menopausal women (average age of 50) who took either a lycopene supplement (LycoRed, 8 mg; 57 participants) or a placebo (43 participants).

Blood samples were collected to evaluate changes in lycopene levels, lipid profile (i.e., triglycerides, cholesterols), and bone turnover biomarkers such as propeptide of Type I collagen (P1NP; an indicator of bone formation) and C-terminal telopeptide of Type I collagen (CTX; an indicator of bone resorption).

The results

Supplementation with lycopene increased lycopene levels, triglycerides, and P1NP, compared to placebo.

Note

Diet and physical activity were not monitored during the intervention.

In addition to the 2 mg of lycopene per capsule, the LycoRed supplement contained 7.5 mg of zinc and 35 micrograms of selenium, but so did the placebo. The supplement and placebo were provided by the company that produces the supplement.

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This Study Summary was published on August 23, 2022.