Lycopene

Lycopene is a carotenoid, a family of plant pigments, that gives tomatoes, watermelon and pink grapefruit their colour. It is a potent antioxidant, and because oxidative stress can damage sperm membranes and DNA, it is studied as a possible aid to male fertility. Cooked and processed tomato products tend to provide lycopene in a more absorbable form than raw tomatoes.

A 2025 meta-analysis of four clinical studies with 151 participants found that lycopene supplementation improved sperm concentration and non-progressive motility, and the authors called for larger trials to confirm and extend the findings.³

Individual trials add detail. A Sheffield study of 60 healthy young men found that 14 mg a day of lactolycopene for 12 weeks improved the proportion of fast-swimming sperm and normally shaped sperm compared with placebo.¹ An Iranian trial in 44 infertile men with low sperm counts, using 25 mg a day for 12 weeks, reported higher total sperm count and concentration than placebo.²

What have studies found on lycopene and sperm?

Studies in both healthy and infertile men have linked lycopene with better sperm measures, including concentration, fast-swimming sperm and normal shape. Results have varied between studies in which measures improved.

Both trials were randomised, double-blind and placebo-controlled, and ran for 12 weeks.¹² In the Sheffield trial, blood lycopene rose in the supplement group, and the share of fast progressive sperm and normally shaped sperm improved; the main outcome, motile sperm concentration, narrowly missed statistical significance.¹ In the Iranian trial, the lycopene group also showed higher antioxidant capacity in semen.²

Eating more tomato-based foods is a reasonable part of a healthy diet, which matters for fertility in its own right. For broader changes, see lifestyle factors that affect male fertility.

Does lycopene affect semen volume?

Lycopene research has focused on the sperm themselves rather than the amount of fluid, which comes mostly from the seminal vesicles and prostate.

The Iranian trial reported a rise in ejaculate volume within the lycopene group over the 12 weeks.² When the 2025 meta-analysis combined studies, semen volume did not differ significantly, while sperm concentration did.³ For the ingredients studied most often with volume in mind, see semen volume supplements.

Is lycopene safe?

Lycopene from tomatoes and other foods is a normal part of most diets. Supplement trials have run for up to 12 weeks, so data on long-term use of high-dose products are still being gathered.

If you are taking other antioxidant or fertility blends, check the labels, as lycopene is often already included. Talk to a doctor if you have been trying for a baby for a year without success, or sooner if you have known fertility concerns. If you take regular medicines, it is worth asking a pharmacist to check any supplement against them.

• Food sources: cooked tomatoes, tomato purée and watermelon
• Supplement trials: 14-25 mg a day for 12 weeks
• Main outcomes studied: sperm concentration, motility and shape

Common questions

Read more on this

13 min readSupplement ingredients for men’s sexual health: what the research shows 14 min readLifestyle factors that affect male fertility: a practical guide

Sources

1. Williams EA, et al. A randomized placebo-controlled trial to investigate the effect of lactolycopene on semen quality in healthy males. Eur J Nutr. 2020;59(2):825-833. PubMed
2. Nouri M, et al. The effects of lycopene supplement on the spermatogram and seminal oxidative stress in infertile men: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Phytother Res. 2019;33(12):3203-3211. PubMed
3. Viña I, Viña JR. Association of lycopene and male reproductive health: systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Mol Sci. 2025;26(15):7224. PubMed

Not medical advice. Written by Eric Stephens from the research cited above; not reviewed by a doctor. If something worries you, see a GP.