Additional studies will be required to confirm these results. The associations were statistically significant in 35 of these studies and nonsignificant in the other 22. There was no association in the remaining 15 studies reviewed. Other work considered lycopene serum levels. Although lycopene intake and serum levels appear to be highly correlated, bioavailability can vary significantly with the dietary source.
Cooking appears to increase lycopene absorption.
In the Detroit intervention study with prostate cancer patients, the lycopene capsules used provided daily levels of intake that were equivalent to the lycopene in 1 lb of raw tomatoes. However, because of bioavailability, the researchers noted that it might take 2 to 3 lbs of tomatoes per day to increase serum levels as much as dietary supplementation did. Again, further studies will need to be conducted. Individuals should consider lycopene and maintain a healthy lifestyle, which includes not smoking, eating an adequate supply of fruits and vegetables and exercising frequently. Giovannucci, E. 1999.