Higher levels of serum lycopene are associated with reduced mortality in individuals with metabolic syndrome

Abstract Metabolic syndrome increases the risk of mortality. Increased oxidative stress and inflammation may play an important role in the high mortality of individuals with metabolic syndrome. Previous studies have suggested that lycopene intake might be related to the reduced oxidative stress and decreased inflammation. Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), we examined the hypothesis that lycopene is associated with mortality among individuals with metabolic syndrome. A total of 2,499 participants with metabolic syndrome, 20 years and older, were divided into three groups based on their serum concentration of lycopene using the tertile rank method. NHANES from year 2001-2006 were linked to the mortality file for mortality follow-up data through December 31, 2011 to determine the mortality rate and hazard ratios (HR) for the three serum lycopene concentration groups. The mean survival time was significantly higher in the group with the highest serum lycopene concentration (120.6 months, 95% confidence interval (CI): 118.8-122.3) and the medium group (116.3 months, 95% CI: 115.2-117.4); compared to the group with lowest serum lycopene concentration (107.4 months, 95% CI: 106.5-108.3). After adjusting for possible confounding factors, participants in the highest (hazard ratio (HR) =0.61, p=0.0113) and in the second highest (HR=0.67, p=0.0497) serum lycopene concentration groups showed significantly lower hazard ratios of mortality when compared to participants in the lower serum lycopene concentration. The data suggest that higher serum lycopene concentration has a significant association with the reduced risk of mortality among individuals with metabolic syndrome.