Lowers risk
Tomatoes, especially cooked
tomato sauce, paste, soup and fresh tomatoes. Vegetables & fruit.
- Verdict
- Lowers riskStudies link it to lower cancer risk.
- How sure
- Rung 3 · ModerateConsistent observational studies or small trials, not yet confirmed by large trials.
The rung shows how sure the science is, not how big the effect is. How to read these ratings
Cancers affected
Prostate
What the evidence shows
Higher lycopene intake and blood levels are linked to lower prostate cancer risk across 42 studies; cooked tomato products showed a stronger link than raw.
What to do
A few servings a week. Lycopene pills are not proven.
Sources
To take it to your doctor, print this page.
Step by step
For the whole picture, from prevention and screening to treatment and life after, see the prostate cancer page.