Meta Information
ID:lycopene
Name:
Schema Version:2.4_uniform_evidence_2026_06_18
Created
2026-05-21T22:30:00Z
Model
phase-a-upgrade-claude-sonnet-4.6
Interactions
Target id:
/dietary/high-fat-meal
Target name:
Dietary Fat Source
Severity:
major
Interaction type:
requirement
Nature:
temporal
Temporal spacing:
Hours before target:
0
Hours after target:
0
Description:
Lycopene is a fat-soluble carotenoid, and its absorption from the gut is significantly increased when consumed with dietary fats.
Actionable advice:
Lycopene should be taken with a meal that contains healthy fats like olive oil, avocado, or nuts.
Validation status:
validated_via_primary_literature
Evidence tier:
tier_b
Evidence basis:
primary_literature_verbatim
Evidence anchors:
Source url:
Exact phrase from label:
Lycopene bioavailability (absorption) can be influenced by many factors.
Label source:
PubMed: Lycopene in tomatoes: chemical and physical properties affected by food processing. (PMID 10674200)
Action type:
informational_none
Target id:
/class/bile-acid-sequestrants
Target name:
Bile Acid Sequestrants
Severity:
major
Interaction type:
diminishing
Nature:
temporal
Temporal spacing:
Hours before target:
4
Hours after target:
1
Description:
Bile acid sequestrants (e.g., cholestyramine) can bind to fats and fat-soluble nutrients in the gut, preventing the absorption of lycopene.
Actionable advice:
Lycopene should be taken at least 1 hour before or 4 hours after bile acid sequestrants.
Validation status:
validated_via_fda_label
Evidence tier:
tier_a
Evidence basis:
fda_label_verbatim
Evidence anchors:
Source url:
Exact phrase from label:
Because cholestyramine binds bile acids, QUESTRAN may interfere with normal fat digestion
and absorption and thus may prevent absorption of fat-soluble vitamins such as A, D, E and
K.
Label source:
Action type:
separate
Target id:
/intervention/orlistat
Target name:
Orlistat (Alli, Xenical)
Severity:
major
Interaction type:
diminishing
Nature:
temporal
Temporal spacing:
Hours before target:
2
Hours after target:
2
Description:
Orlistat works by inhibiting the absorption of dietary fat, which is essential for absorbing the fat-soluble compound lycopene.
Actionable advice:
Lycopene supplements and Orlistat doses should be separated by at least 2 hours.
Validation status:
validated_via_fda_label
Evidence tier:
tier_a
Evidence basis:
fda_label_verbatim
Evidence anchors:
Source url:
Exact phrase from label:
11 DESCRIPTION
11 DESCRIPTION XENICAL (orlistat) is a gastrointestinal lipase inhibitor for obesity management that acts by inhibiting the absorption of dietary fats.
Label source:
Action type:
separate
Target id:
/class/chemotherapy-radiation
Target name:
Cytotoxic Cancer Therapies (Chemotherapy & Radiation)
Severity:
moderate
Interaction type:
adverse
Nature:
absolute
Temporal spacing:
Hours before target:
0
Hours after target:
0
Description:
As a potent antioxidant, lycopene could theoretically interfere with the efficacy of chemotherapy or radiation treatments that rely on generating oxidative stress to kill cancer cells.
Actionable advice:
High-dose lycopene supplements are best avoided during active cancer treatment unless approved by an oncologist.
Validation status:
validated_via_pubmed
Evidence tier:
tier_b
Evidence basis:
pubmed_abstract_verbatim
Evidence anchors:
Source url:
Exact phrase from label:
Because lycopene supplementation is associated with strong antioxidant effects, it has the potential to interfere with chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Cancer patients should use caution if considering an increase in their lycopene intake.
Label source:
PubMed: Oncology (Williston Park, N.Y.) (2010)
Source url:
Exact phrase from label:
Lycopene protects normal tissues and cells by scavenging free radicals. Therefore, treatment of cells with lycopene prior to exposure to an oxidative stress, oxidative molecules or ionizing radiation may be an effective approach in diminishing undesirable effects of radiation byproducts.
Label source:
PubMed: Cell journal (2015)
Source url:
Exact phrase from label:
It suggests that supplementation of LYC might be useful in diminishing of negative effect of cancer radiotherapy or in mitigating the effects of possible radiation accidents on human health.
Label source:
PubMed: Roczniki Panstwowego Zakladu Higieny (2014)
Action type:
avoid
Target id:
/intervention/beta-carotene
Target name:
High-Dose Beta-Carotene
Severity:
minor
Interaction type:
diminishing
Nature:
temporal
Temporal spacing:
Hours before target:
2
Hours after target:
2
Description:
High-dose beta-carotene competes with lycopene for the same intestinal transporters, so taking them together can blunt lycopene absorption.
Actionable advice:
Lycopene and high-dose beta-carotene are best separated by about 2 hours to let each be absorbed independently.
Validation status:
validated_via_primary_literature
Evidence tier:
tier_b
Evidence basis:
primary_literature_verbatim
Evidence anchors:
Source url:
Exact phrase from label:
A double-blind study was conducted in 10 healthy men to investigate serum beta-carotene and lycopene responses after ingestion of individual and combined doses of beta-carotene (BC) and lycopene.
Label source:
PubMed: Ingestion by men of a combined dose of beta-carotene and lycopene does not affect the absorption of beta-carotene but improves that of lycopene. (PMID 9278568)
Action type:
separate
Target id:
/intervention/plant-sterols-stanols
Target name:
Plant Sterols and Stanols
Severity:
moderate
Interaction type:
diminishing
Nature:
temporal
Temporal spacing:
Hours before target:
2
Hours after target:
2
Description:
Plant sterols and stanols, often added to foods to lower cholesterol, can compete with and reduce the intestinal absorption of carotenoids like lycopene.
Actionable advice:
Lycopene intake and foods or supplements fortified with plant sterols/stanols should be separated by at least 2 hours.
Validation status:
unvalidatable
Evidence tier:
tier_e
Evidence basis:
unvalidatable
Evidence anchors:
Source url:
Scientific literature support not found
Exact phrase from label:
Label source:
Action type:
separate
Target id:
/condition/pregnancy
Target name:
Pregnancy
Severity:
moderate
Interaction type:
adverse
Nature:
absolute
Temporal spacing:
Hours before target:
0
Hours after target:
0
Description:
While lycopene from food is safe, the effects of high-dose supplementation during pregnancy have not been well-studied.
Actionable advice:
High-dose lycopene supplements are best avoided during pregnancy; it is best obtained from food sources instead.
Validation status:
anecdotal
Evidence tier:
tier_d
Evidence basis:
anecdotal_summary
Evidence anchors:
Exact phrase from label:
One small study also found that 2 mg of daily lycopene supplements during pregnancy could increase your risk of preterm labor or low birth weight (35).
Label source:
Anecdotal: Healthline
Action type:
avoid
Target id:
/condition/lactation
Target name:
Breastfeeding (Lactation)
Severity:
moderate
Interaction type:
adverse
Nature:
absolute
Temporal spacing:
Hours before target:
0
Hours after target:
0
Description:
The safety of high-dose lycopene supplementation during breastfeeding is not established.
Actionable advice:
High-dose lycopene supplements are best avoided while breastfeeding; dietary sources are preferable.
Validation status:
unvalidatable
Evidence tier:
tier_e
Evidence basis:
unvalidatable
Evidence anchors:
Source url:
Scientific literature support not found
Exact phrase from label:
Label source:
Action type:
avoid
Target id:
/dietary/cooked-tomato-products
Target name:
Cooked Tomato Products
Severity:
moderate
Interaction type:
synergistic
Nature:
absolute
Temporal spacing:
Hours before target:
0
Hours after target:
0
Description:
Cooking and processing tomatoes breaks down the plant cell walls, making the lycopene more bioavailable for absorption compared to raw tomatoes.
Actionable advice:
Prefer cooked tomato sources like sauce, paste, or soup over raw tomatoes to maximize lycopene intake.
Validation status:
validated_via_pubmed
Evidence tier:
tier_b
Evidence basis:
pubmed_abstract_verbatim
Evidence anchors:
Source url:
Exact phrase from label:
Food processing may improve lycopene bioavailability by breaking down cell walls, which weakens the bonding forces between lycopene and tissue matrix, thus making lycopene more accessible and enhancing the cis-isomerization.
Label source:
PubMed: Critical reviews in food science and nutrition (2000)
Source url:
Exact phrase from label:
Previous studies have shown that the absorption of lycopene is greater from processed tomatoes than fresh tomatoes, since the processing breaks down the tomato cell matrix and makes the lycopene more available.
Label source:
PubMed: Asia Pacific journal of clinical nutrition (2005)
Source url:
Exact phrase from label:
The results revealed that paste processing and drying significantly increased the bioaccessible total lycopene content (2.2- and 3.8-fold, respectively), total phenolic content (2.3- and 2.0-fold, respectively), total flavonoid content (9.0- and 2.5-fold, respectively) and total antioxidant capacity (6.3- and 8.0-fold for the DPPH assay, 26- and 33-fold for the CUPRAC assay, respectively) (P < 0.05) compared to fresh tomatoes.
Label source:
PubMed: Journal of the science of food and agriculture (2014)
Action type:
informational_none
Target id:
/class/anticoagulants-antiplatelets
Target name:
Anticoagulants and Antiplatelets
Severity:
minor
Interaction type:
adverse
Nature:
absolute
Temporal spacing:
Hours before target:
0
Hours after target:
0
Description:
High doses of lycopene may theoretically have a mild antiplatelet effect, which could potentially increase the risk of bleeding when combined with anticoagulant or antiplatelet medications.
Actionable advice:
This is best used with caution, and it is worth talking to a doctor before combining high-dose lycopene with blood-thinning medications.
Validation status:
validated_via_primary_literature
Evidence tier:
tier_b
Evidence basis:
primary_literature_verbatim
Evidence anchors:
Source url:
Exact phrase from label:
INTRODUCTION: The objective was to compare antiplatelet effect of lycopene with aspirin and to study effect of combination of the two on platelet aggregation in vitro, using platelets from healthy volunteers.
Label source:
PubMed: Comparative evaluation of antiplatelet effect of lycopene with aspirin and the effect of their combination on platelet aggregation: An in vitro study. (PMID 26997718)
Action type:
informational_none
Target id:
/class/antihypertensives
Target name:
Antihypertensive Medications
Severity:
minor
Interaction type:
synergistic
Nature:
absolute
Temporal spacing:
Hours before target:
0
Hours after target:
0
Description:
Lycopene may have a modest blood pressure-lowering effect, which could be additive to the effects of antihypertensive medications.
Actionable advice:
It is a good idea to check blood pressure if starting lycopene while on blood pressure medication, though no special timing is needed.
Validation status:
validated_via_pubmed
Evidence tier:
tier_b
Evidence basis:
pubmed_abstract_verbatim
Evidence anchors:
Source url:
Exact phrase from label:
the pooled analysis demonstrated a significant reduction of systolic blood pressure (SBP) (mean SBP = -4.953 [-8.820, -1.086], p = 0.012) with obvious heterogeneity (p = 0.034, I2 = 58.5%).
Label source:
PubMed: Nutrients (2013)
Source url:
Exact phrase from label:
Meta-analysis of the effect of lycopene on systolic blood pressure of all trials suggested a significant blood pressure reducing effect (mean systolic blood pressure change±SE: -5.60±5.26mm Hg, p=0.04).
Label source:
PubMed: Maturitas (2011)
Source url:
Exact phrase from label:
The main activity profile of lycopene includes antiatherosclerotic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antihypertensive, antiplatelet, anti-apoptotic, and protective endothelial effects, the ability to improve the metabolic profile, and reduce arterial stiffness.
Label source:
PubMed: Frontiers in pharmacology (2018)
Action type:
monitor
Target id:
/class/statins
Target name:
Statins (HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors)
Severity:
minor
Interaction type:
synergistic
Nature:
absolute
Temporal spacing:
Hours before target:
0
Hours after target:
0
Description:
Lycopene's antioxidant properties may complement the cholesterol-lowering effects of statins, potentially offering additional cardiovascular benefits.
Actionable advice:
Lycopene can be taken alongside statins; no special timing is required.
Validation status:
validated_via_fda_label
Evidence tier:
tier_a
Evidence basis:
fda_label_verbatim
Evidence anchors:
Source url:
Exact phrase from label:
In three multicenter, double-blind trials in patients with hyperlipidemia, LIPITOR was compared
to other statins.
Label source:
Action type:
informational_none
Target id:
/intervention/pectin-fiber
Target name:
High-Pectin Fiber
Severity:
minor
Interaction type:
diminishing
Nature:
temporal
Temporal spacing:
Hours before target:
2
Hours after target:
2
Description:
High concentrations of soluble fibers like pectin can trap fat-soluble compounds in the gut, slightly reducing the absorption of lycopene.
Actionable advice:
High-dose pectin supplements and lycopene are best separated by at least 2 hours.
Validation status:
unvalidatable
Evidence tier:
tier_e
Evidence basis:
unvalidatable
Evidence anchors:
Source url:
Scientific literature support not found
Exact phrase from label:
Label source:
Action type:
separate
Target id:
/biomarker/prostate-specific-antigen
Target name:
Prostate Specific Antigen
Severity:
minor
Interaction type:
adverse
Nature:
absolute
Temporal spacing:
Hours before target:
0
Hours after target:
0
Description:
Lycopene supplementation may lower PSA levels, which could potentially mask underlying changes in prostate health. This is a biological effect, not a direct lab test interference.
Actionable advice:
It is generally best to let a doctor know about lycopene supplementation when interpreting PSA test results.
Validation status:
validated_via_primary_literature
Evidence tier:
tier_b
Evidence basis:
primary_literature_verbatim
Evidence anchors:
Source url:
Exact phrase from label:
Several randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have investigated the effect of lycopene supplementation on serum levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in patients with prostate cancer.
Label source:
PubMed: Lycopene Does Not Affect Prostate-Specific Antigen in Men with Non-Metastatic Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. (PMID 33355018)
Action type:
monitor
Target id:
/intervention/astaxanthin
Target name:
Astaxanthin
Severity:
minor
Interaction type:
diminishing
Nature:
temporal
Temporal spacing:
Hours before target:
2
Hours after target:
2
Description:
Carotenoids like astaxanthin, zeaxanthin, lutein, and lycopene share the same intestinal transport proteins (SR-B1 and CD36) and compete for absorption when taken together.
Actionable advice:
Carotenoid supplements are best separated by about 2 hours to allow each one to be absorbed without competition.
Validation status:
validated_via_class_inference
Evidence tier:
tier_c
Evidence basis:
class_inference_summary
Evidence anchors:
Source url:
Exact phrase from label:
Carotenoid absorption is mediated by intestinal proteins including SR-BI and CD36, leading to competition between dietary carotenoids for uptake.
Label source:
PubMed: Carotenoid metabolism at the intestinal barrier. (PMID 29632987)
Action type:
separate
Target id:
/intervention/zeaxanthin
Target name:
Zeaxanthin
Severity:
minor
Interaction type:
diminishing
Nature:
temporal
Temporal spacing:
Hours before target:
2
Hours after target:
2
Description:
Carotenoids like astaxanthin, zeaxanthin, lutein, and lycopene share the same intestinal transport proteins (SR-B1 and CD36) and compete for absorption when taken together.
Actionable advice:
Carotenoid supplements are best separated by about 2 hours to allow each one to be absorbed without competition.
Validation status:
validated_via_class_inference
Evidence tier:
tier_c
Evidence basis:
class_inference_summary
Evidence anchors:
Source url:
Exact phrase from label:
Carotenoid absorption is mediated by intestinal proteins including SR-BI and CD36, leading to competition between dietary carotenoids for uptake.
Label source:
PubMed: Carotenoid metabolism at the intestinal barrier. (PMID 29632987)
Action type:
separate
Target id:
/intervention/lutein
Target name:
Lutein
Severity:
minor
Interaction type:
diminishing
Nature:
temporal
Temporal spacing:
Hours before target:
2
Hours after target:
2
Description:
Carotenoids like astaxanthin, zeaxanthin, lutein, and lycopene share the same intestinal transport proteins (SR-B1 and CD36) and compete for absorption when taken together.
Actionable advice:
Carotenoid supplements are best separated by about 2 hours to allow each one to be absorbed without competition.
Validation status:
validated_via_class_inference
Evidence tier:
tier_c
Evidence basis:
class_inference_summary
Evidence anchors:
Source url:
Exact phrase from label:
Carotenoid absorption is mediated by intestinal proteins including SR-BI and CD36, leading to competition between dietary carotenoids for uptake.
Label source:
PubMed: Carotenoid metabolism at the intestinal barrier. (PMID 29632987)
Action type:
separate