LycoRed has been granted patent protection by IP Australia for an innovative carotenoid composition of lycopene, phytoene, phytofluene, and optionally vitamin E, that protects the skin from the damaging effects of UV radiation.
The novelty of this invention lies in the fact that it is not a topical application but can be delivered via a dietary supplement or in a fortified food or beverage.
“While up until now, the dominant means for supplementing the diet with important nutrients was via capsules, what we offer here, is quite unique,” states Zohar Nir, LycoRed’s vp of new product development. “This is a natural lycopene composition that can be either encapsulated in a soft gel or easily added to a beverage to create a year-round fortified sun protection drink.”
Research supporting this patent yielded two main findings: firstly, natural lycopene is more effective than synthetic in protecting the skin from UV damage, and secondly, natural lycopene’s efficacy is improved when combined with antioxidants such as phytoene and phytofluene that are found in tomatoes.