Is lycopene beneficial to human health?

Since humans cannot synthesise carotenoids de novo, we depend upon the diet exclusively for the source of these micronutrients. Although the necessity for beta-carotene. as the precursor of vitamin A has been recognised for many years, it is lycopene that has attracted substantial interest more recently. Lycopene is the red-coloured carotenoid predominantly found in tomato fruit, but in few other fruits or vegetables. It has claimed that it may alleviate chronic diseases such as cancers and coronary heart disease. This possibility has been studied extensively, by epidemiological studies and biochemical investigations of its properties and its bioavailability from tomato-based diets. This article summarises the current state of knowledge of the properties of lycopene. its possible role in human health and areas for future research. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.