Lycopene-enriched ice cream and antioxidant effects in people
What it found
In healthy volunteers, eating lycopene-enriched ice cream raised lycopene levels in blood and skin and lowered two markers of oxidative stress.
Plain ice cream increased skin flaking and bacteria on the face, but the enriched version did not.
What they found
Studies in people
Lycopene in blood and skin
Lycopene levels in the blood and skin rose steadily while volunteers ate the lycopene-enriched ice cream.
Oxidative stress markers
Two markers of oxidative stress, inflammatory oxidative damage and low-density lipoprotein peroxidase proteins, dropped significantly by the end of the enriched ice cream period. They stayed the same during the control ice cream period.
Blood biochemistry
Standard blood test results did not change with either type of ice cream.
Skin flaking and bacteria
Control ice cream significantly increased skin flaking and bacteria on the face. These increases did not happen with the lycopene-enriched ice cream.
What the authors conclude
“We concluded that lycopene-enriched ice cream is a new functional food with clear antioxidant properties.”
Also in their conclusions
- They concluded that lycopene-enriched ice cream is a new functional food with clear antioxidant properties.
- They say that enrichment with lycopene may reduce the proinflammatory action of ice cream on facial skin.
- They suggest this could lower the risk of diet-associated acne in young consumers.
How it was done
Lycopene is a dietary antioxidant that the body absorbs poorly from natural sources. Foods enriched with lycopene may help the body take in more of it.
In a randomized crossover study, healthy volunteers ate either control ice cream or lycopene-enriched ice cream for 4 weeks each. Blood and facial skin surface samples were taken before, at 2 weeks, and at the end of each period.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This was a small pilot study, so the results may not apply to larger groups or the general public.
- The study lasted only 4 weeks per period, so it cannot show what happens over longer periods.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Saratov State Medical University, Russian Federation
The paper
- Title
- Systemic and skin-targeting beneficial effects of lycopene-enriched ice cream: A pilot study
- Type
- Randomised controlled trial
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Chernyshova MP, Pristenskiy DV, Lozbiakova MV, Chalyk NE, Bandaletova TY, Petyaev IM (2019). Systemic and skin-targeting beneficial effects of lycopene-enriched ice cream: A pilot study. Journal of dairy science. doi:10.3168/jds.2018-15282PubMed 30447975DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error