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# Serum lycopene cuts stroke risk in men
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/serum_lycopene_cuts_stroke_risk_101420120503/
- Published: 2012-10-14T18:01:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-22T16:09:27.000Z
- Description: Among 1,031 Finnish men followed a median of 12.1 years, those in the highest quartile of serum lycopene had 59 percent lower risk of ischemic stroke and 55 percent lower risk of any stroke than the lowest quartile. Alpha- and beta-carotene, alpha-tocopherol and retinol showed no link.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Phytochemicals, Nutrition, #vivvo-import

By David Liu, PHD

Sunday Oct 14, 2012 ([foodconsumer.org](http://www.foodconsumer.org/)) -- Maintaining a high level of lycopene in the blood may reduce risk of stroke in men, according to a new study in Neurology.

Jouni Karppi, PhD at University of Eastern Finland in Kuopio, Finland and colleagues conducted the study and found men who had the highest levels of lycopene in their blood were 41 percent less likely to suffer ischemic stroke, compared with those having lowest levels.

Observational studies have already shown that intake of fruit and vegetables and levels of serum carotenoids were associated with lower risk of stroke, but not all studies are consistent. 

To have a higher degree of certainty, the researchers set out to establish an association between serum concentrations of alpha tocopherol and retinol, two major carotenoids, and risk of any stroke and ischemic stroke in men.

For the study, researchers analysed data on serum concentrations of carotenoids retinol and α-tocopherol from 1,031 Finnish men aged 46 to 65 years in the Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor cohort. 

During a median of 12.1 follow-up years, 67 cases of stroke with 50 ischemic stroke were recorded.

Men in the highest quartile of lycopene concentrations in the blood had 59% and 55% reduced risks of ischemic stroke and any stroke, respectively, compared with men in the lowest quartile.

The association was derived after adjustment for age, examination year, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, smoking status, serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, and history of stroke.

However, alpha α-Carotene, beta β-carotene, alpha α-tocopherol, and retinol were not correlated with the risk of total stroke or ischemic stroke.

The researchers concluded "This prospective study shows that high serum concentrations of lycopene, as a marker of intake of tomatoes and tomato-based products, decrease the risk of any stroke and ischemic stroke in men."