Unexpected property of tomatoes discovered by scientists
Scientists have discovered that phytoene, a compound found in tomatoes, can protect the liver from fat accumulation. In experiments on mice, the compound reduced signs of fatty liver disease even with an unhealthy diet. Researchers compared the dose to eating 3-4 tomatoes a day.
Scientists have discovered that the natural compound phytoene, found in tomatoes, can protect the liver from excessive fat accumulation. During a six-month experiment on mice fed a diet high in refined carbohydrates, mimicking unhealthy human eating habits, animals that received phytoene showed significantly less severe fatty liver disease. The dose used corresponded to a human consuming about three to four medium raw tomatoes or about 100 grams of tomato paste per day. The protective effect was not explained by changes in the gut microbiome—phytoene affected proteins regulating metabolism in the liver, causing the organ to more actively use excess fat as an energy source. Senior study author Xiang-Dong Wang noted that phytoene is also found in carrots, red peppers, pink grapefruit, watermelon, and apricots. Researchers suggest that foods rich in phytoene could become an additional tool for preventing metabolic liver diseases.