Meta Information
ID:lycopene
Name:
Schema Version:AIM-2.0
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:
Always take lycopene with a meal that contains healthy fats like olive oil, avocado, or nuts.
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:
Take lycopene at least 1 hour before or 4 hours after taking bile acid sequestrants.
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:
Separate lycopene supplements from Orlistat doses by at least 2 hours.
Target id:
/dietary/olestra
Target name:
Olestra (Fat Substitute)
Severity:
major
Interaction type:
diminishing
Nature:
absolute
Temporal spacing:
null
Description:
Olestra is a non-absorbable fat substitute that can bind to and excrete fat-soluble compounds like lycopene, significantly reducing their absorption.
Actionable advice:
Avoid consuming foods containing Olestra when relying on dietary or supplemental lycopene.
Target id:
/class/chemotherapy-radiation
Target name:
Cytotoxic Cancer Therapies (Chemotherapy & Radiation)
Severity:
moderate
Interaction type:
adverse
Nature:
absolute
Temporal spacing:
null
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:
Avoid high-dose lycopene supplements during active cancer treatment unless approved by your oncologist.
Target id:
/intervention/beta-carotene
Target name:
High-Dose Beta-Carotene
Severity:
moderate
Interaction type:
diminishing
Nature:
temporal
Temporal spacing:
Hours before target:
2
Hours after target:
2
Description:
High supplemental doses of beta-carotene can compete with lycopene for absorption in the small intestine, potentially reducing the amount of lycopene that enters the bloodstream.
Actionable advice:
If taking high-dose beta-carotene supplements, separate them from lycopene by at least 2 hours.
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:
Separate lycopene intake from foods or supplements fortified with plant sterols/stanols by at least 2 hours.
Target id:
/condition/pregnancy
Target name:
Pregnancy
Severity:
moderate
Interaction type:
adverse
Nature:
absolute
Temporal spacing:
null
Description:
While lycopene from food is safe, the effects of high-dose supplementation during pregnancy have not been well-studied.
Actionable advice:
Avoid high-dose lycopene supplements during pregnancy; obtain it from food sources instead.
Target id:
/condition/lactation
Target name:
Breastfeeding (Lactation)
Severity:
moderate
Interaction type:
adverse
Nature:
absolute
Temporal spacing:
null
Description:
The safety of high-dose lycopene supplementation during breastfeeding is not established.
Actionable advice:
Avoid high-dose lycopene supplements while breastfeeding; rely on dietary sources.
Target id:
/dietary/cooked-tomato-products
Target name:
Cooked Tomato Products
Severity:
moderate
Interaction type:
synergistic
Nature:
absolute
Temporal spacing:
null
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.
Target id:
/class/anticoagulants-antiplatelets
Target name:
Anticoagulants and Antiplatelets
Severity:
minor
Interaction type:
adverse
Nature:
absolute
Temporal spacing:
null
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:
Use with caution and consult a doctor before combining high-dose lycopene with blood-thinning medications.
Target id:
/class/antihypertensives
Target name:
Antihypertensive Medications
Severity:
minor
Interaction type:
synergistic
Nature:
absolute
Temporal spacing:
null
Description:
Lycopene may have a modest blood pressure-lowering effect, which could be additive to the effects of antihypertensive medications.
Actionable advice:
Monitor blood pressure if starting lycopene while on blood pressure medication, but no special timing is needed.
Target id:
/class/statins
Target name:
Statins (HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors)
Severity:
minor
Interaction type:
synergistic
Nature:
absolute
Temporal spacing:
null
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.
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:
Separate high-dose pectin supplements from lycopene by at least 2 hours.
Target id:
/biomarker/prostate-specific-antigen
Target name:
Prostate Specific Antigen
Severity:
minor
Interaction type:
assay_interference
Nature:
absolute
Temporal spacing:
null
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:
Inform your doctor about lycopene supplementation when interpreting PSA test results.