Eating tomatoes every day could help reduce fat in the liver, a condition closely linked to diabetes, according to a new study by the Italian National Institute of Gastroenterology.
Fatty liver disease is associated with excess weight, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Many people experience no obvious symptoms, allowing fat to accumulate dangerously without notice.
Study details and results
The research split 79 people into two groups. Half ate 200g of raw tomatoes daily for six weeks along with 50g of tomato sauce, while the other half avoided tomatoes completely.
Using a FibroScan to measure liver fat, researchers found the liver-fat reading fell by 35 points among tomato eaters, compared with 18 points among those who avoided them. The findings were published in the journal Nutrients.
No link to weight loss
The changes did not appear to be explained by weight loss. There were no significant differences between the groups in BMI, waist circumference, total body fat or visceral fat. No dramatic differences were seen in cholesterol, blood sugar or standard liver blood tests.
Possible mechanism and caveats
Researchers believe compounds in tomatoes, particularly lycopene and beta-carotene, may influence how the liver processes fat. These compounds could reduce new fat production, limit fat uptake and encourage the body to burn more fat.
The study is small, involving only 79 people over six weeks, and cannot prove tomatoes treat fatty liver disease or prevent type 2 diabetes. Tomatoes remain inexpensive and widely available, selling for as little as 16p each at supermarkets such as Tesco.
