Lycopene and risk of cardiovascular diseases: A meta-analysis of observational studies.
The aim of current meta-analysis was to investigate the relation between lycopene and risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD).



Studies concerning about the association between lycopene and risk of CVD were searched on Pubmed, Embase, and Web of Science from inception to October 2016. A total of 14 eligible studies were identified. A significantly inverse association with a pooled risk ratio (RR) of 0.83 (95% CI: 0.76-0.90) was shown between lycopene exposure and risk of CVD. Findings were similar restricting to dietary studies (RR = 0.87, 95% CI = 0.79-0.96) and biomarker studies (RR = 0.74, 95% CI = 0. 62-0.87).Dietary lycopene intake was statistically significant for coronary heart disease (CHD) (RR: 0.87; 95% CI: 0.76-0.98) and stroke (RR: 0.83; 95% CI: 0.69-0.96).The pooled risk estimate was generally similar for lycopene biomarker concentrations, but the association was only statistically significant for stroke (RR: 0.65; 95% CI: 0.42-0.87). Subgroup analyses showed that retrospective and low quality studies were statistically significant sources of heterogeneity.



Higher lycopene exposure is inversely associated with a lower risk of CVD. Further well-designed randomized clinical trials are required to assess the role of lycopene on CVD.
Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China.
Bo
B
Song
Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China.
Kai
K
Liu
Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China.
Yuan
Y
Gao
Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China.
Lu
L
Zhao
Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China.
Hui
H
Fang
Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China.
Yusheng
Y
Li
Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China.
Lulu
L
Pei
Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China.
Yuming
Y
Xu
D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077276:Lycopene; D008297:Male; D064887:Observational Studies as Topic; D017594:Publication Bias; D012306:Risk
D002338:Carotenoids; D000077276:Lycopene
Coronary heart disease; Epidemiologic study; Lycopene; Meta-analysis; Stroke