Do lycopene and tomatoes protect against prostate cancer?

Lycopene, the red pigment in tomatoes, has a powerful antioxidant effect. It neutralises free radicals and thereby protects cells from damage. This is considered one of the possible explanations for its protective effect on the prostate.

In animal studies, lycopene consistently slows the growth of prostate tumours. Starting early and applying it over a long period appears to be most effective. Whether this also works in humans is not yet clear.

Epidemiological research in humans shows an association: people who eat more tomato products have, on average, a lower risk of prostate cancer. This pattern recurs across multiple studies. However, a causal relationship has not been proven, as large randomised trials are lacking. Moreover, not all studies are consistent with one another: there are also studies that do not find this association.

Taking lycopene supplements on their own is currently not sufficiently substantiated to recommend. The conflicting results make it difficult to say whether it is purely the lycopene, or the combination with other substances in tomatoes and vegetables. A dietary pattern rich in tomato products and vegetables, such as the Mediterranean diet, does have consistent epidemiological indications of a protective effect.

There is also a small study in men with benign prostatic enlargement, in which lycopene combined with selenium and a plant extract reduced inflammation in prostate tissue and improved urinary symptoms. However, the evidence base is too limited to draw firm conclusions from this.