What is Serum Lycopene and What Does it Mean for Your Health?

January 9, 2026 •

4 min read

According to a 2022 study published in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition, higher serum lycopene concentrations were independently associated with a decreased risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease. This highlights the importance of understanding exactly what is serum lycopene and why maintaining sufficient levels can be beneficial for health.

Quick Summary

This article explores serum lycopene, a key carotenoid antioxidant found in blood, detailing its origins, health implications, and measurement methods. It explains how dietary intake and absorption influence circulating levels, affecting antioxidant status and disease risk. The text covers major food sources and factors impacting bioavailability.

Key Points

Serum Lycopene Defined: Serum lycopene is the measure of the fat-soluble carotenoid antioxidant circulating in a person's blood, reflecting recent dietary intake.
Antioxidant Power: As a potent antioxidant, lycopene helps protect cells and tissues throughout the body by neutralizing harmful free radicals, thus reducing oxidative stress.
Dietary Dependency: The human body cannot produce its own lycopene, so circulating levels depend entirely on consuming lycopene-rich foods like cooked tomatoes, watermelon, and pink grapefruit.
Better Bioavailability: Lycopene from cooked or processed tomato products is more easily absorbed by the body than from raw tomatoes, especially when consumed with a source of dietary fat like olive oil.
Health Indicator: Lower-than-average serum lycopene can indicate poor dietary intake, impaired absorption, or high oxidative stress, and may correlate with increased risk for certain chronic conditions.
Measurement Method: Healthcare professionals use laboratory tests like high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to accurately measure serum lycopene levels.

Understanding Lycopene: The Basics

Lycopene is a vibrant red pigment known as a carotenoid, found naturally in many red and pink fruits and vegetables. As a non-provitamin A carotenoid, the human body cannot produce it, meaning it must be obtained through diet. Once ingested and absorbed, lycopene circulates in the bloodstream and is transported by lipoproteins, primarily low-density lipoproteins (LDL). This circulating form of the antioxidant is known as serum lycopene.

The primary function of lycopene within the body is its powerful antioxidant activity. It protects cells from damage caused by harmful free radicals, a process that can lead to oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is implicated in the development of numerous chronic diseases, including certain cancers, heart disease, and diabetes. By stabilizing these free radicals, lycopene helps maintain cellular health and overall well-being.

The Importance of Serum Lycopene Levels

Measuring serum lycopene provides a direct snapshot of an individual's antioxidant status and dietary intake of this crucial nutrient. The levels found in the blood are a direct reflection of recent dietary consumption and the body's ability to absorb and utilize it.

High Levels: Typically indicate a diet rich in lycopene from sources like tomatoes, watermelon, and pink grapefruit. Higher concentrations are often linked to better antioxidant protection and a reduced risk of certain chronic conditions.
Low Levels: Can suggest insufficient dietary intake, poor absorption due to medical conditions, or increased oxidative stress where the body's needs are higher than the current intake. Studies have noted lower levels in individuals with chronic inflammation, those who smoke, and people with certain diseases.

Lycopene Bioavailability and Food Sources

The bioavailability of lycopene—the amount the body can absorb and use—is influenced by several factors. One of the most important is the food source itself. Interestingly, processed and cooked tomato products, such as tomato paste and ketchup, offer more bioavailable lycopene than raw tomatoes. This is because the heat processing breaks down the tomato's cell walls, making the lycopene more accessible for absorption. Additionally, since lycopene is a fat-soluble compound, consuming it with a source of fat, like olive oil, significantly enhances its absorption.

Top Dietary Sources of Lycopene

Tomatoes and Tomato Products: This is the most common and concentrated source, especially when cooked or processed.
Watermelon: Provides a significant amount of lycopene, comparable to tomatoes.
Pink Guava: A potent source of this antioxidant.
Pink Grapefruit: Another excellent dietary option.
Papaya: A tropical fruit that contributes to overall lycopene intake.

What is the Difference Between Lycopene and Serum Lycopene?


Feature	Lycopene	Serum Lycopene
Definition	The red carotenoid pigment as it exists in plants and food sources.	The concentration of the lycopene antioxidant circulating in the blood (serum/plasma).
Measurement	Quantified in food based on factors like ripeness and processing.	Measured via laboratory tests, typically high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).
Status in Body	The form consumed through diet.	The measurable outcome of dietary intake, absorption, and metabolism.
Absorption Factors	Heat processing and presence of dietary fat increase bioavailability.	Influenced by dietary intake, absorption efficiency, and oxidative stress levels.
Health Implications	Associated with general health benefits from dietary intake.	Directly reflects the body's circulating antioxidant levels, offering a marker for nutritional status and disease risk.

Medical Relevance and Measurement

For healthcare professionals, measuring serum lycopene is a valuable tool for assessing a patient's antioxidant status, particularly in those at risk of conditions linked to oxidative stress. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is the standard method used to accurately measure carotenoid levels in blood samples. This test can help determine if low lycopene levels are contributing to a patient's health issues or if dietary adjustments could offer a therapeutic benefit. Before undergoing a serum lycopene test, patients are typically advised to fast for 8–10 hours.

Research continues to explore the full potential of lycopene's health benefits. From protecting against UV skin damage to supporting cardiovascular and prostate health, a growing body of evidence supports the importance of adequate lycopene intake. As with any dietary component, a varied diet rich in colorful fruits and vegetables is the best approach to ensuring a robust intake of lycopene and other essential nutrients.

Conclusion

In summary, serum lycopene is the circulating form of a potent antioxidant that the body cannot produce on its own. It directly reflects an individual's dietary habits and overall antioxidant status, playing a crucial role in protecting cells from oxidative damage. Measuring serum lycopene levels through advanced laboratory techniques provides important health insights for at-risk patients. By prioritizing a diet rich in cooked tomatoes and other lycopene-rich foods, particularly when consumed with healthy fats, individuals can support healthy serum levels and promote long-term well-being.

Frequently Asked Questions

The most concentrated food sources of lycopene are processed tomato products like sun-dried tomatoes, tomato paste, and ketchup. Other rich sources include watermelon, pink grapefruit, guava, and papaya.

Cooking tomatoes breaks down their tough cell walls, which helps release the lycopene and makes it more accessible for the body to absorb. Consuming cooked tomato products with healthy fats further enhances this absorption.

Low serum lycopene levels have been associated with increased oxidative stress and inflammation, and observational studies have linked them to a higher risk of certain conditions like cardiovascular disease and some types of cancer.

Serum lycopene is measured through a blood test, which requires fasting for 8–10 hours. The blood sample is then analyzed in a lab using a technique called high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to accurately quantify the levels.

While supplements are available, most experts recommend getting lycopene from whole food sources. Foods provide a synergistic effect with other nutrients, and the body may absorb lycopene more effectively from food than from a supplement.

Excessively high intake of lycopene, known as lycopenemia, is generally considered harmless but can cause an orange or red discoloration of the skin and liver. It is a benign condition and subsides once intake is reduced.

No, it is not a routine test for everyone. It is typically measured in research studies or for individuals with specific health concerns, such as those with chronic inflammation or certain diseases, to assess nutritional antioxidant levels.