lycopene
General
Complementary/Alternative Medicine: This monograph describes a natural or herbal product that is not subject to FDA guidelines for medicines. Patients and clinicians are advised to read package labels carefully to ensure safe and efficacious use.
Pronunciation:
lahy-kuh-peen
Trade Name(s)
- all-trans lycopene
- psi-psi-carotene
Ther. Class.
antioxidants
cardioprotective agents
Common Uses
- Atherosclerosis prevention.
- Exercise-induced asthma.
- Cancer prevention.
- Oral leukoplakia.
Action
Lycopene is a predominant carotenoid in blood and tissues that has antioxidant properties. It scavenges free radicals and prevents oxidative damage to DNA. It may decrease cholesterol synthesis and remove LDL cholesterol from circulation. 85% of dietary lycopene comes from tomato-derived products.
Therapeutic Effect(s):
- Atherosclerosis prevention.
- Cancer prevention.
Pharmacokinetics
Absorption: Unknown
Distribution: Unknown
Metabolism and Excretion: Unknown
Half-life: Unknown
TIME/ACTION PROFILE
ONSET | PEAK | DURATION | |
---|---|---|---|
PO | unknown | unknown | unknown |
Contraindication/Precautions
Contraindicated in:
- Hypersensitivity.
Use Cautiously in:
Pregnancy and lactation (when using amounts greater than those found in foods)
Adverse Reactions/Side Effects
GI: abdominal pain, diarrhea, flatulence
* CAPITALS indicate life-threatening.
Underline indicate most frequent.
Interactions
Natural Drug Interaction
None.
Natural-Natural:
Absorption may be increased with beta carotene .
Route/Dosage
PO (Adults): Exercise-induced asthma: 30 mg/day; Prostate cancer: 15 mg twice daily; Oral leukoplakia: 4–8 mg/day.
Availability
Softgels: 10 mg, 15 mg, 20 mg
Assessment
- Monitor for GI side effects (abdominal pain, flatus, diarrhea) periodically during therapy.
Lab Test Considerations:
Monitor lipid profile, serum androgen, and Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) before and periodically during therapy.
Implementation
- PO Administer as directed.
Patient/Family Teaching
- Instruct patient to take as directed.
- Advise female patient to notify health care professional if pregnancy is planned or suspected or if breastfeeding.
Evaluation/Desired Outcomes
Decrease in atherosclerosis and exercise–induced asthma.