Foods rich in the antioxidant lycopene, like tomato juice and paste—may reduce the risk of certain cancers and have heart-health benefits, and preliminary studies suggest that lycopene supplements may also be helpful. But do lycopene supplements on the market contain what they claim, and if so, which products provide the best quality and value? 

To find out, ConsumerLab recently purchased and tested and reviewed popular lycopene supplements sold in the U.S. The tests revealed that one product contained just 59% of the lycopene claimed on the label. The cost for a 10 mg dose of lycopene from products varied widely, from just 7 cents to as much as 58 cents. 

Among products found to contain their claimed amounts of lycopene, ConsumerLab selected one that provided high-quality lycopene at a good dose and cost as its Top Pick. 

The results are available online now in ConsumerLab's new Lycopene Supplements Review, which includes test results and comparisons. Products covered in the report are: 21st Century Maximum Strength Lycopene, Douglas Laboratories Lycopene, GNC Lycopene 15 mg, Healthy Origins Natural Lyc-O-Mato Tomato Lycopene Complex, Jarrow Formulas Lyco-Sorb Lycopene, NOW Lycopene 10 mg, Puritan's Pride Lycopene, Source Naturals Lycopene, Spring Valley (Walmart) Lycopene, Swanson Lycopene and Vitacost Root2 Lycopene. Eight of the products were selected for testing by ConsumerLab and three others underwent the same testing through CL's voluntary Quality Certification Program. The review also summarizes the clinical evidence for lycopene for heart health, cancer prevention, prostate disease, skin health, and other conditions. In addition, it provides information about lycopene dosage and potential side effects, natural and synthetic forms of lycopene, how to get lycopene from foods, and how to maximize absorption of lycopene.