Studies Point to Potential Benefits of Tomato Compounds for Fatty Liver
Two recent studies explore the link between tomato compounds, including carotenoids and phytoene, and the reduction of liver fat accumulation in humans and mice.
Recent studies suggest a potential link between natural compounds in tomatoes and the reduction of fat accumulation in the liver, according to two separate studies—one involving human clinical trials and the other conducted on mice. However, researchers emphasize that it is still too early to conclude that tomatoes can serve as a treatment for fatty liver disease.
Clinical Findings and Human Trials
In the clinical study, published in the European Journal of Nutrition, 98 adults with Metabolic dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) participated. The participants were randomly divided into two groups for 12 weeks: one received tomato sauce made from organic, vine-ripened tomatoes exceptionally rich in carotenoids, while the control group received standard commercial tomato sauce.
At the end of the period, the group receiving the carotenoid-rich sauce recorded an average decrease of 33 units in the CAP index—used to assess liver fat via elastography—compared to a 12-unit decrease in the control group. The difference between the groups was statistically significant.
Animal Research on Phytoene
Concurrently, researchers at Tufts University in the United States focused on phytoene, a colorless carotenoid that serves in plants as a precursor for lycopene and other pigments. The study was published in Molecular Nutrition & Food Research.
Researchers fed mice a diet high in refined carbohydrates for 24 weeks to induce fatty liver disease. Some mice also received purified phytoene in a dosage roughly equivalent to human consumption of three to four medium tomatoes a day, or about 100 grams of tomato paste.
"Both lycopene and phytoene are present in significant amounts in tomatoes and tomato products," explained Na Yoon Lee, lead author and doctoral student at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University.
The mice receiving phytoene developed less severe fatty liver disease compared to those on the same diet without the supplement. Researchers found the substance activated pathways involved in fatty acid oxidation and liver metabolism.
Future Perspectives and Limitations
Despite the encouraging results, researchers urge caution. Prof. Xiang-Dong Wang, senior author of the study, noted that further research is needed before recommending dietary strategies for preventing or slowing metabolic liver disease.
