Home Ingredients Lumenato™ (Tomato Phytoene and Phytofluene Extract)

Lumenato™ (Tomato Phytoene and Phytofluene Extract)

Solanum lycopersicum
Evidence Level
Limited
4 Clinical Trials
6 Documented Benefits
2/5 Evidence Score

Lumenato™ is an oil extract of yellow, or golden, tomato pulp made by Lycored in Israel and sold for skin. Its main carotenoids are phytoene and phytofluene, two colorless lycopene precursors, with some zeta-carotene and only traces of lycopene. In studies it was taken as one softgel a day supplying about 10 mg of tomato carotenoids. Three published papers on people, all run or paid for by Lycored, have tested it. Blood levels of phytoene and phytofluene rose within one to four weeks. In two placebo-controlled studies of women, skin barrier and firmness readings, and water loss in one subgroup, improved from baseline, but neither reported a direct comparison with placebo, and in one study water loss fell more on placebo. An open-label study found better self-rated skin. It is taken by mouth and is not a sunscreen.

Studied Dose One softgel a day with a meal, about 110 mg of oleoresin supplying about 10 mg of tomato carotenoids, for 12 to 16 weeks in skin studies and 4 weeks in a blood-level study. EFSA judged up to 100 mg of the extract a day safe for adults.
Active Compound Yellow tomato oleoresin from Lycored, extracted from tomato pulp and standardized to at least 10% tomato carotenoids, mainly phytoene and phytofluene with some zeta-carotene. One capsule batch analyzed for EFSA held 7.33 mg phytoene, 2.06 mg phytofluene and 0.09 mg lycopene; Lycored describes it as lycopene-free. Also sold as 5% beadlets and a 4% emulsion.

Benefits

Skin barrier strength measured by tape stripping

In a 12-week placebo-controlled study of 59 women with sensitive skin, the number of tape strips needed to disrupt the skin barrier rose 59.9% from baseline on one Lumenato softgel a day. It also rose 29% on placebo, and the maker-funded study reported only within-group changes, not a test of the difference between groups.

Supported by Trial 1

Skin firmness and elasticity measured by suction device

In the same 12-week study, Cutometer readings of firmness and elasticity improved from baseline by about 9% and 12% on Lumenato, with smaller changes on placebo that were not significant. The study, funded by the maker, did not report a direct comparison between the groups, so it does not show an effect beyond placebo.

Supported by Trial 1, Trial 3

Water loss through the skin (trans-epidermal water loss)

Two placebo-controlled studies measured water loss through facial skin. In one, it fell 6.9% on Lumenato and 10% on placebo. In the other, 16 weeks of the extract had no effect in the whole group; it fell only in women who started with high values, a subgroup change from baseline without a direct test against placebo.

Supported by Trial 2, Trial 1

Self-rated skin appearance over 12 weeks

In an open-label study, women aged 35 to 55 who took one softgel a day for 12 weeks rated their skin firmness, tone, brightness, hydration, texture and fine lines as improved, and the ratings held two weeks after stopping. There was no placebo group, so expectation could explain the change, and the maker funded the work.

Supported by Trial 3

Phytoene and phytofluene levels in blood

In 24 healthy volunteers taking Lumenato capsules daily for four weeks, plasma phytoene, phytofluene and zeta-carotene rose significantly from the first week. The study had no control group and shows absorption, not a health or skin outcome.

Supported by Trial 4, Trial 1

Collagen protection in cell culture (lab study)

In a laboratory study of skin fibroblasts grown with activated white blood cells, Lumenato prevented damage to collagen-3 in a dose-dependent way, mainly by blocking the oxidants those cells release, and induced a small amount of new collagen-3. This is cell work, not evidence from people.

Supported by Trial 1, Trial 2

Mechanism of action

1

Colorless carotenoids that absorb ultraviolet light

Phytoene and phytofluene are colorless because they absorb ultraviolet rather than visible light, and they are readily absorbed from the diet and deposited in skin. This is a laboratory light-absorbing property and has not been shown to work as sun protection when Lumenato is taken by mouth.

2

Blocking neutrophil oxidants in cell culture

In co-cultures of skin fibroblasts and activated neutrophils, Lumenato inhibited NADPH oxidase and myeloperoxidase, the enzymes that generate superoxide and halide oxidants, which tracked with protection of collagen-3. It also inhibited the protein-degrading enzymes MMP-8, MMP-9 and elastase. These are cell findings only.

3

Fibroblast gene expression in the lab

When cultured human dermal fibroblasts were exposed to the extract for six hours, genes tied to innate immunity, DNA repair and the handling of foreign chemicals were turned up. Gene expression in cultured cells does not show that the same happens in the skin of people taking the supplement.

Clinical trials

1
Lumenato and Skin Barrier Strength: 12-Week Placebo-Controlled Study
PubMed

Double-blind, placebo-controlled study; one Lumenato softgel (10 mg total carotenoids, mainly phytoene and phytofluene) or a glycerin softgel daily for 12 weeks; statistics are within-group changes from baseline only; fully funded by Lycored, two authors are Lycored employees; criteria match registry NCT05537350, whose primary outcome is water loss and FACE-Q (Tarshish et al. 2023, Skin Res Technol)

Women aged 35 to 55 with self-perceived sensitive skin and higher baseline water loss; 69 recruited, 59 completed (30 Lumenato, 29 placebo).

No comparison between the groups is reported. Water loss through the skin fell 6.9% on Lumenato and 10% on placebo. The number of tape strips needed to disrupt the barrier rose 59.9% from baseline on Lumenato and 29.23% on placebo, and Cutometer firmness and elasticity improved from baseline on Lumenato with smaller nonsignificant changes on placebo. The paper also reports barrier repair after stripping 38.8% faster than baseline on Lumenato at 12 weeks, again without a test against placebo. No adverse complaints were reported.

2
Lumenato (Golden Tomato Extract) and Water Loss Through the Skin: 16-Week Study
PubMed

Placebo-controlled study; one 110 mg Lumenato softgel or a paraffin oil capsule daily for 16 weeks; randomization and blinding not described; Lycored employees and Lycored-paid consultants wrote the paper, which also includes a cell-culture experiment (Tarshish et al. 2022, J Cosmet Dermatol)

Japanese women aged 35 to 60; 114 screened, 66 eligible, 63 completed and 61 analyzed after two protocol violations, split by baseline water loss into high and lower subgroups.

In the whole population the extract had no effect on water loss through the skin. In women with high baseline values it fell from baseline on the extract (18 women, p < 0.001) but not on placebo (14 women, p = 0.293), a subgroup result without a direct test between groups. Women with lower baseline values showed no change.

3
Lumenato and Self-Rated Skin Appearance: 12-Week Open-Label Study
PubMed

Open-label, app-based study with no placebo (registry NCT04248699); one roughly 110 mg softgel (10% to 12% total carotenoids) daily for 12 weeks; primary objective the FACE-Q Satisfaction with Skin score; fully funded by Lycored (Tarshish et al. 2022, J Cosmet Dermatol)

Healthy US women aged 35 to 55; the abstract reports 60 completers and the methods 63.

Self-rated elasticity, firmness, brightness, tone, dark spots, under-eye circles, hydration, texture and fine lines improved from baseline (p < 0.001), with changes first noted at week 4 and still present two weeks after stopping. With no placebo group, these ratings cannot separate an effect of the supplement from expectation.

4
Lumenato and Blood Levels of Phytoene and Phytofluene: 4-Week Study
PubMed

Uncontrolled multiple-dose study (Part I of the same paper); daily Lumenato capsules for 28 days with weekly fasting blood samples; plasma lycopene, which the capsules do not supply, served as a reference; fully funded by Lycored (Tarshish et al. 2022, J Cosmet Dermatol)

24 healthy nonsmoking volunteers aged 24 to 36.

Plasma phytoene, phytofluene and zeta-carotene rose significantly (p < 0.001) after 1 to 4 weeks. This shows the carotenoids are absorbed, not any skin or health outcome.

Side effects and drug interactions

Common Potential side effects

No adverse complaints were reported in the 12-week placebo-controlled study, but the trials were small and short, so uncommon or long-term effects are not known.
The extract contains a small amount of tomato protein; EFSA judged its allergy potential no greater than tomato itself, so people allergic to tomato should avoid it.
EFSA concluded that up to 100 mg of this yellow tomato extract a day is safe in food supplements for adults; an earlier, more concentrated version for wider use did not gain that conclusion.
Pregnant and breastfeeding women were excluded from the two US skin trials and the EFSA assessment covered adults only, so safety in pregnancy, breastfeeding and children has not been studied.
It is taken by mouth and is not a sunscreen; no Lumenato trial has tested protection from sunburn.

Important Drug interactions

Medicines that interfere with fat absorption, such as cholestyramine, may reduce the absorption of fat-soluble carotenoids; the blood-level study excluded people taking such medicines.
The barrier study excluded people on blood thinners, anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroids, so there are no data on combining Lumenato with these medicines.
The trials excluded people already taking carotenoid supplements, so there are no data on combining Lumenato with other carotenoid products.
No formal drug-interaction studies of Lumenato exist; tell your doctor about any supplements you take.

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Frequently asked questions about Lumenato™ (Tomato Phytoene and Phytofluene Extract)

What is Lumenato and how is it different from a lycopene supplement?

Lumenato is an oil extract of yellow tomatoes made by Lycored. Red tomato extracts are rich in lycopene, while this one is rich in phytoene and phytofluene, the colorless carotenoids that come before lycopene in the plant, and holds only traces of lycopene. The generic carotenoids and lycopene each have their own page.

Do the studies show it works better than a placebo?

Not yet. Two placebo-controlled studies, both funded by the maker, reported skin barrier, firmness and water loss changes from baseline within each group, but neither reported a direct comparison with the placebo group, and water loss fell slightly more on placebo in one of them. The third study had no placebo.

Can it replace sunscreen?

No. Phytoene and phytofluene absorb ultraviolet light in the lab, but no Lumenato trial has tested protection from sunburn. The UV redness trials of tomato carotenoids used other, lycopene-rich tomato products, and in the largest one the visually graded sunburn threshold did not differ from placebo. Keep using sunscreen.

How is it taken and is it considered safe?

Studies used one softgel a day with a meal, supplying about 10 mg of tomato carotenoids, for 4 to 16 weeks. EFSA judged up to 100 mg of the extract a day safe for adults in food supplements. Avoid it if you are allergic to tomato, and ask a clinician first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

What is Lumenato?

Lumenato™ is an oil extract of yellow, or golden, tomato pulp made by Lycored in Israel and sold for skin. Its main carotenoids are phytoene and phytofluene, two colorless lycopene precursors, with some zeta-carotene and only traces of lycopene.

What is Lumenato used for?

NutraSmarts does not list Lumenato under a health category. What the research covers: In a 12-week placebo-controlled study of 59 women with sensitive skin, the number of tape strips needed to disrupt the skin barrier rose 59.9% from baseline on one Lumenato softgel a day.

What is the recommended dosage of Lumenato?

The clinically studied dose is One softgel a day with a meal, about 110 mg of oleoresin supplying about 10 mg of tomato carotenoids, for 12 to 16 weeks in skin studies and 4 weeks in a blood-level study. EFSA judged up to 100 mg of the extract a day safe for adults. Always follow the product label and check with a healthcare provider for personal advice.

Is Lumenato safe, and does it have side effects?

Side effects and cautions reported for Lumenato include: No adverse complaints were reported in the 12-week placebo-controlled study, but the trials were small and short, so uncommon or long-term effects are not known. It may also interact with some medications. Lumenato is not right for everyone, so check with a healthcare provider first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a medical condition, or take prescription medication.

Does Lumenato interact with any medications?

Possible interactions include: Medicines that interfere with fat absorption, such as cholestyramine, may reduce the absorption of fat-soluble carotenoids; the blood-level study excluded people taking such medicines. If you take prescription medication, check with a pharmacist or doctor before using it.

How strong is the scientific evidence for Lumenato?

NutraSmarts rates the evidence for Lumenato as Limited (2 out of 5). It is backed by 4 study summaries and 12 cited references summarized on this page. A higher rating reflects more, larger, and better-designed human studies.

References(12 citations)

Evidence ratings on NutraSmarts are based on the totality of human clinical research, with emphasis on randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews. The references below directly support claims made throughout this page.

  1. Tarshish E, Hermoni K, Muizzuddin N. Effect of Lumenato a Tomato derived oral supplement on improving skin barrier strength. Skin Res Technol. 2023;29(11):e13504. doi: 10.1111/srt.13504.PubMedUsed to support: Study by Lycored employees (Tarshish, Lycored Ltd; Hermoni, Lycored Corp) with a contract research consultant, fully funded by Lycored. Double-blind, placebo-controlled study in women aged 35 to 55 with self-perceived sensitive skin and baseline trans-epidermal water loss of 12 or more: one Lumenato softgel standardized to 10 mg total carotenoids, mainly phytoene and phytofluene, or a glycerin softgel daily for 12 weeks; 69 recruited, 59 completed (30 Lumenato, 29 placebo). All statistics are changes from baseline within each group; no between-group test is reported. Water loss fell 6.9% on Lumenato and 10% on placebo. Tape strips needed to disrupt the barrier rose 59.9% on Lumenato (significant from baseline) and 29.23% on placebo; Cutometer firmness (9.34%), elasticity (11.6%) and fatigue (9.42%) improved from baseline on Lumenato, with smaller nonsignificant changes on placebo. No adverse complaints were received.
  2. Tarshish E, Hermoni K, Sharoni Y, Wertz PW, Dayan N. Effects of golden tomato extract on skin appearance-outlook into gene expression in cultured dermal fibroblasts and on trans-epidermal water loss and skin barrier in human subjects. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2022;21(7):3022-3030. doi: 10.1111/jocd.14527.PubMedUsed to support: Lycored-sponsored paper: Tarshish and Hermoni were Lycored employees and Sharoni, Wertz and Dayan received consulting fees paid by Lycored. The methods name the golden tomato extract as Lumenato, given as a 110 mg softgel once a day for 16 weeks, with paraffin oil control capsules, to Japanese women aged 35 to 60 (66 eligible, 61 analyzed); randomization and blinding are not described. Across the whole population the extract had no effect on trans-epidermal water loss. In women with high baseline values it fell from baseline on the extract (18 women, p < 0.001) but not on placebo (14 women, p = 0.293); no direct test between the groups is reported. A cell-culture part found the extract raised fibroblast genes tied to innate immunity, DNA repair and detoxification.
  3. Tarshish E, Hermoni K, Sharoni Y, Muizzuddin N. Effect of Lumenato oral supplementation on plasma carotenoid levels and improvement of visual and experiential skin attributes. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2022;21(9):4042-4052. doi: 10.1111/jocd.14724.PubMedUsed to support: Study fully funded by Lycored; Tarshish (Lycored Ltd) and Hermoni (Lycored Corp) are company employees. Part I: 24 healthy volunteers took Lumenato capsules for 28 days with no control group; plasma phytoene, phytofluene and zeta-carotene rose significantly (p < 0.001) from week 1 to week 4. Part II: open-label, app-based study with no placebo in women aged 35 to 55 taking one roughly 110 mg softgel (10% to 12% total carotenoids) daily for 12 weeks; the primary objective was the FACE-Q Satisfaction with Skin score. Self-rated skin scores improved from baseline (p < 0.001) and stayed improved two weeks after stopping. The abstract reports 60 completers and the methods 63.
  4. Solomonov Y, Hadad N, Pikovsky O, Levy R. Lumenato protects normal human dermal fibroblasts from neutrophil-induced collagen-3 damage in co-cultures. PLoS One. 2021;16(3):e0248183. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0248183.PubMedUsed to support: Laboratory study at Ben-Gurion University, with materials partly supported by a Lycored grant and a related patent application. In co-cultures of human dermal fibroblasts and activated neutrophils, Lumenato prevented collagen-3 damage in a dose-dependent way, mainly by inhibiting neutrophil NADPH oxidase and myeloperoxidase activity, and induced a low rate of collagen-3 synthesis. Cell work only; no people were studied.
  5. EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA), Turck D, Bohn T, Cámara M, Castenmiller J, De Henauw S, Jos Á, Maciuk A, Mangelsdorf I, McArdle HJ, McNulty B, Naska A, Pentieva K, Siani A, Thies F, Aguilera-Gómez M, Cubadda F, Frenzel T, Heinonen M, Neuhäuser-Berthold M, Knutsen HK, Poulsen M, Maradona MP, Schlatter JR, Siskos A, van Loveren H, Roldán-Torres R, Gelbmann W, Hirsch-Ernst KI. Safety of yellow tomato extract as a novel food pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. EFSA J. 2025;23(5):e9373. doi: 10.2903/j.efsa.2025.9373.PubMedUsed to support: EFSA safety opinion on a yellow tomato extract submitted by Lycored Ltd: a supercritical CO2 extract of yellow tomato pulp with phytoene plus phytofluene up to 10%, zeta-carotene up to 5%, beta-carotene up to 0.5% and lycopene up to 0.4%. The Panel concluded it is safe in food supplements for adults at up to 100 mg of extract a day. It cites an unpublished Lumenato pharmacokinetic study in 24 volunteers whose capsules held 7.33 mg phytoene, 2.06 mg phytofluene and 0.09 mg lycopene, and judged allergy potential no greater than tomato itself.
  6. EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA), Turck D, Bohn T, Castenmiller J, De Henauw S, Hirsch-Ernst KI, Maciuk A, Mangelsdorf I, McArdle HJ, Naska A, Pelaez C, Pentieva K, Siani A, Thies F, Tsabouri S, Vinceti M, Aguilera-Gómez M, Cubadda F, Frenzel T, Heinonen M, Marchelli R, Neuhäuser-Berthold M, Poulsen M, Prieto Maradona M, Schlatter JR, van Loveren H, Gelbmann W, Gerazova-Efremova K, Roldán-Torres R, Knutsen HK. Safety of yellow/orange tomato extract as a novel food pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. EFSA J. 2023;21(5):e07994. doi: 10.2903/j.efsa.2023.7994.PubMedUsed to support: Earlier EFSA opinion on a yellow/orange tomato extract rich in phytoene and phytofluene with lesser beta-carotene, zeta-carotene and lycopene, proposed for cereal bars, drinks and food supplements from age 15. Because of high estimated lycopene intakes and a lack of safety data on phytoene and phytofluene intake, the Panel concluded its safety had not been established under the proposed uses. EFSA's 2025 opinion notes the same applicant then switched to yellow tomatoes only and narrowed the use.
  7. Groten K, Marini A, Grether-Beck S, Jaenicke T, Ibbotson SH, Moseley H, Ferguson J, Krutmann J. Tomato Phytonutrients Balance UV Response: Results from a Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study. Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2019;32(2):101-108. doi: 10.1159/000497104.PubMedUsed to support: Other product, not Lumenato: double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled multicenter trial paid for by Lycored; 149 healthy volunteers were randomized and 145 completed. The daily supplement was a lycopene-rich tomato nutrient complex supplying 15 mg lycopene, 5.8 mg phytoene and phytofluene, 0.8 mg beta-carotene, 5.6 mg tocopherols and 4 mg rosemary carnosic acid for 12 weeks, against a medium-chain triglyceride placebo. Of the two primary outcomes, the visually graded minimal erythemal dose did not differ from placebo, while chromameter-measured UVB redness was lower than with placebo; the UVB-induced rise in IL6 and TNF-alpha was also smaller.
  8. Aust O, Stahl W, Sies H, Tronnier H, Heinrich U. Supplementation with tomato-based products increases lycopene, phytofluene, and phytoene levels in human serum and protects against UV-light-induced erythema. Int J Vitam Nutr Res. 2005;75(1):54-60. doi: 10.1024/0300-9831.75.1.54.PubMedUsed to support: Other products, not Lumenato: 12-week study comparing synthetic lycopene, the tomato extract Lyc-o-Mato and a Lyc-o-Mato drink, each supplying about 10 mg lycopene a day, with no placebo group. Serum phytoene and phytofluene rose only with the two tomato products. The rise in skin redness after simulated sunlight fell from week 0 to week 12 by 25% with synthetic lycopene, 38% with Lyc-o-Mato and 48% with the drink.
  9. Meléndez-Martínez AJ, Stinco CM, Mapelli-Brahm P. Skin Carotenoids in Public Health and Nutricosmetics: The Emerging Roles and Applications of the UV Radiation-Absorbing Colourless Carotenoids Phytoene and Phytofluene. Nutrients. 2019;11(5):1093. doi: 10.3390/nu11051093.PubMedUsed to support: Review: phytoene and phytofluene are major, readily bioavailable dietary carotenoids that are colorless because they absorb ultraviolet rather than visible light, and the authors recommend counting them when assessing skin carotenoid status. The first author discloses an advisory role with an Israeli biotechnology company.
  10. LycoRed Ltd. (sponsor), ClinicalTrials.gov. A Clinical Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Consumer Perception of Lumenato (NCT05537350). ClinicalTrials.gov. 2022;Registry record NCT05537350, first posted September 13, 2022; status completed..SourceUsed to support: Not PubMed-indexed; registry record read via the ClinicalTrials.gov API. Lycored-sponsored randomized, double-masked, parallel trial of one Lumenato softgel or a placebo softgel daily for 12 weeks in women aged 35 to 55 with self-perceived sensitive skin and baseline water loss of 12 or more (66 enrolled), registered after the study ended. The single primary outcome is skin barrier by VapoMeter water loss and the FACE-Q questionnaire. Its criteria match the 2023 Skin Research and Technology trial, which does not cite a registry number.
  11. LycoRed Ltd. (sponsor), ClinicalTrials.gov. Lumenato Nutritional Supplement on Skin Appearance (NCT04248699). ClinicalTrials.gov. 2020;Registry record NCT04248699, first posted January 30, 2020; status completed..SourceUsed to support: Not PubMed-indexed; registry record read via the ClinicalTrials.gov API. Lycored-sponsored open-label, single-group study (72 enrolled) of a tomato oleoresin softgel in healthy US women aged 35 to 55 for 12 weeks, with no placebo arm; the primary outcome is the FACE-Q Satisfaction with Skin score, with a week 14 check after stopping. Its outcomes match Part II of the 2022 Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology paper.
  12. Lycored. Lumenato product page. Lycored website. 2026;Manufacturer web page, accessed November 2026..SourceUsed to support: Not PubMed-indexed; manufacturer page read in November 2026. Shows the name as Lumenato™ in its title and text (its offerings list writes Lumenato®) and lists the forms: a 10% oleoresin for softgels, 5% starch beadlets and a 4% cold-water-dispersible emulsion (minimum tomato carotenoid content). It describes the ingredient as a phytoene and phytofluene blend and states that it does not contain lycopene.