Lycopene Increases Lifespan In Those With Metabolic Syndrome

Article by Arnie Gitomer

People with metabolic syndrome share symptoms including obesity around the abdomen, elevated blood pressure and sugar, high triglycerides, and low levels of HDL-the "good" cholesterol-which together may shorten lifespan. In this study, doctors followed 2,499 people with metabolic syndrome, aged at least 20, for six to 11 years to see if there were any differences in survival rates based on levels of lycopene.

Doctors ranked participants according to low, medium, or high levels of lycopene. Those with the highest lycopene levels had the longest average survival time, 120.6 months. Those with medium lycopene levels averaged 116.3 months, and those with the lowest lycopene levels survived an average of 107.4 months.

This is the first study to test for a link between lycopene levels and survival rates in those with metabolic syndrome, and doctors said the results suggest a significant lifespan benefit for lycopene.

(Reference: Nutrition Journal; January, 2016, Published Online)

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Additional Comments by Don Goldberg

Lycopene is a carotenoid that is present in human serum, liver, adrenal glands, lungs, prostate, colon, and skin at higher levels than other carotenoids. Lycopene has been found to possess antioxidant and antiproliferative properties in animal and in vitro studies, and has, among its proposed uses, been recommended for  preventing atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Lycopene is also used for prostate cancer, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), human papilloma virus (HPV) infection, cataracts, and asthma.