High-Stability Lycopene Lipid Delivery and Endothelial Function: A Cardiometabolic Evidence Framework

A high-stability lycopene lipid matrix was evaluated as a controlled exposure platform for cardiovascular nutrition research. Across three optimized formulations, total lycopene was 2.13-2.34%, all-trans lycopene 85.1-86.2%, peroxide value 1.8-2.0 mmol/kg, and 30-day lycopene retention at 45°C was 90.8-91.6%. Human evidence was considered by endpoint rather than collapsed into a single cardiovascular effect. In statin-treated patients with cardiovascular disease, 7 mg/day lycopene for two months improved endothelium-dependent vasodilatation by 53%, while the healthy-volunteer arm showed no comparable change. Meta-analyses report variable findings across blood pressure, lipids, inflammation, and endothelial measures. More recent randomized tomato-juice work also shows that flow-mediated dilation can improve even when measured oxidative-stress markers do not move in parallel. The formulation data provide a stable lipid-phase lycopene input for studies that prospectively define vascular phenotype, circulating lycopene exposure, and the primary cardiometabolic endpoint.