1. Home
  2. Health
  3. Nutrition

Lycopene

By Shereen Jegtvig, About.com

Updated April 29, 2008

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by our Medical Review Board

Definition: A carotenoid that gives fruits and vegetables their red and pink colors. Lycopene has been shown to induce antioxidant activity in humans. And eating a diet rich in lycopene has been associated with a lower risk of prostate cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Tomatoes, especially processed tomato products, are the richest source of dietary lycopene. Other sources include watermelons and pink grapefruit.

Explore Nutrition
About.com Special Features

Learn how you can reduce your your numbers with these nutrition and exercise tips. More >

Keep yourself, and your family, happy and healthy this fall with these tips. More >

We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here.
  1. Home
  2. Health
  3. Nutrition
  4. Nutrition Basics
  5. Nutrition Glossary
  6. Lycopene - Definition of Lycopene>

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.