A special type of lycopene supplement called lycosome-lycopene raises blood lycopene levels much more than another type called lactolycopene in people with coronary artery disease. After 4 weeks, the lycosome version increased lycopene over 4-fold, while the lactolycopene version increased it only half a fold.
See the scientific wording
In patients with coronary vascular disease, a lycosome-formulated lycopene supplement (7 mg daily for 30 days) increases serum lycopene levels by 2.9-fold after 2 weeks and 4.3-fold after 4 weeks, whereas a lactolycopene formulation only increases levels by 0.5-fold after 4 weeks, demonstrating that the formulation significantly affects lycopene bioavailability.
Very strong evidence
Randomized trialsOne moderate-quality study supports this claim, so treat this as an early signal rather than settled science.
What the research says
1 study reviewedSupporting (1)
Randomized Controlled TrialHuman2018
The study gave people a special type of lycopene and measured how much got into their blood. It found that the amount went up by about 4 times after a month, which matches what the claim says.
Contradicting (0)
No contradicting studies found yet
That doesn't mean it's settled — it just means no study has tested the opposite.
Quality-weighted scoring: we follow the GRADE framework — each study is rated High, Moderate, Low, or Very Low based on study design, methodology rigor, and risk of bias. A single high-quality RCT can outweigh several weaker observational studies.
Scores reflect study quality, not just count.
Lycopene is normally hard for the body to absorb. A special coating called lycosome protects lycopene from being destroyed in the stomach and helps it get into the blood. This leads to much higher levels of lycopene in the blood compared to other forms.
Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting study
How Fit Body Science checks a claim
- 1
We isolate the claim
Health advice from videos, articles and studies is broken down into single, testable claims.
- 2
We find the research
Each claim is matched against peer-reviewed studies, with every source cited by DOI.
- 3
We grade the evidence
Studies are scored on methodology, statistical rigor, transparency and publication quality.
The fitness and health internet is full of confident claims. We check them against real research.
Every claim on this site is traced back to peer-reviewed studies, scored on methodology and reporting quality, and given a verdict you can audit yourself — sources, DOIs and all.
- Full evidence breakdown and mechanism chains
- Ask our AI anything about a claim or its studies
- Get notified when new research changes a verdict
A special type of lycopene supplement called lycosome-lycopene raises blood lycopene levels much more than another type called lactolycopene in people with coronary artery disease. After 4 weeks, the lycosome version increased lycopene over 4-fold, while the lactolycopene version increased it only half a fold.
Mechanism
1 studyLycosome coating protects lycopene from being broken down in the gut and helps it enter the blood. This is why lycosome-formulated lycopene reaches much higher blood levels than other forms.
Lycopene is normally hard for the body to absorb. A special coating called lycosome protects lycopene from being destroyed in the stomach and helps it get into the blood. This leads to much higher levels of lycopene in the blood compared to other forms.
Lycosome encapsulation protects lycopene from degradation in the gastrointestinal tract and enhances its solubilization, leading to increased absorption across the intestinal epithelium into the bloodstream.
Increased circulating lycopene scavenges free radicals and reduces oxidative damage to lipids, as evidenced by decreased oxidized LDL and inflammatory oxidative damage.
Reduced oxidative stress attenuates inflammatory responses, reflected by decreased levels of Chlamydia pneumoniae IgG.
Decreased oxidative stress and inflammation improve endothelial function and tissue oxygenation, shown by increased flow-mediated dilation and tissue oxygen saturation.
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
Community contributions welcome
Effect of lycopene supplementation on cardiovascular parameters and markers of inflammation and oxidation in patients with coronary vascular disease
The study gave people a special type of lycopene and measured how much got into their blood. It found that the amount went up by about 4 times after a month, which matches what the claim says.
Contradicting (0)
Community contributions welcome
Score Breakdown
No multi-axis breakdown available yet. The overall Pro / Against score above is the best signal.
- No clinical evidence is available; the score reflects mechanistic plausibility only.
What Would Prove This
Per GRADE and EBM methodology, here is what ideal scientific evidence would look like to definitively prove or disprove this claim, ordered from strongest to weakest.
Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials Comparing Lycosome and Lactolycopene Formulations on Lycopene Bioavailability in Cardiovascular Disease Patients
Comprehensive search of RCTs in patients with coronary vascular disease, comparing any lycopene formulation (lycosome, lactolycopene, etc.) on serum lycopene levels, with meta-analysis of fold-change data at 2 and 4 weeks.
Double-Blind RCT of Lycosome-Lycopene vs Lactolycopene vs Placebo for Lycopene Bioavailability in Coronary Artery Disease Patients
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in patients with coronary vascular disease. Three arms: lycosome-lycopene 7 mg daily, lactolycopene 7 mg daily, and placebo, for 30 days. Primary outcome: serum lycopene levels at baseline, 2 weeks, and 4 weeks. Secondary outcomes: adverse events, compliance.
Prospective Cohort Study of Lycopene Formulation Use and Serum Levels in Cardiovascular Patients
Prospective cohort study of patients with coronary vascular disease who are either prescribed or self-administer lycosome-lycopene or lactolycopene. Measure serum lycopene at baseline, 2 weeks, and 4 weeks. Control for baseline levels, diet, and other confounders via multivariable regression.
Case-Control Study of High vs Low Serum Lycopene Responders to Lycopene Supplementation
Select cases (patients with coronary vascular disease who have high serum lycopene after supplementation) and controls (low responders). Compare formulation type (lycosome vs lactolycopene) and other factors. Retrospective data collection.