Lycopene and related nutrients linked to fewer colitis symptoms
What it found
In 56 people with ulcerative colitis in remission, those who ate more lycopene, lutein and zeaxanthin reported less faecal blood, mucus and pus, but not less abdominal pain.
What they found
Studies in people
Lycopene and faecal blood
People who reported no faecal blood had a higher median lycopene intake (2496.3 µg) than those who did (1438.3 µg).
Lutein and zeaxanthin, mucus
People without faecal mucus had a higher median lutein and zeaxanthin intake (1356.7 µg) than those with it (873.1 µg).
Lutein and zeaxanthin, pus
People without faecal pus had a higher median lutein and zeaxanthin intake (1320.6 µg) than those with it (540.6 µg).
Carotene and mucus
People with faecal mucus had higher intakes of beta-carotene and alpha-carotene per 1000 kcal than those without it.
Abdominal pain
No differences in lycopene, lutein or zeaxanthin intake were seen between people with and without abdominal pain.
Vitamin A intake
One in four people with ulcerative colitis in remission had vitamin A intake below the recommended level.
What the authors conclude
“Higher lycopene, lutein and zeaxanthin intakes in individuals with ulcerative colitis in remission were associated with lower faecal blood, mucus and pus but not with lower incidence of abdominal pain.”
Also in their conclusions
- They say that optimising intake of specific retinoids may enhance disease control in people with ulcerative colitis.
- They call for prospective studies, including patient reported and objective outcomes, to confirm this.
How it was done
The authors wanted to see whether intake of vitamin A related nutrients, including lycopene, is linked to gut symptoms in people with ulcerative colitis in remission.
They asked 56 people with ulcerative colitis in remission (19 men and 37 women) about their symptoms and analysed three days of their self-reported food records. They compared nutrient intakes between those with and without each symptom.
What it can’t tell you
- This study looked at people at one point in time, so it can show a link but not that lycopene or the other nutrients caused the symptom differences.
- The number of people with faecal mucus or pus was small, so those results are less certain.
- The study did not measure blood levels of these nutrients, so it cannot show how much was actually absorbed.
Who paid
- Conflicts
- The authors declare no conflict of interest.
- Authors work at
- Warsaw University of Life Sciences (WULS-SGGW), Poland; Medical University of Warsaw, Poland
The paper
- Title
- Lycopene, Lutein and Zeaxanthin May Reduce Faecal Blood, Mucus and Pus but not Abdominal Pain in Individuals with Ulcerative Colitis
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Głąbska D, Guzek D, Zakrzewska P, Włodarek D, Lech G (2016). Lycopene, Lutein and Zeaxanthin May Reduce Faecal Blood, Mucus and Pus but not Abdominal Pain in Individuals with Ulcerative Colitis. Nutrients. doi:10.3390/nu8100613Free full textPubMed 27706028DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error