Tomatoes have an unexpected benefit for liver health

Researchers have revealed a potential benefit of adding tomatoes to the diet, as it appears that eating them daily may help reduce the amount of fat accumulated in the liver of patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common health condition, particularly associated with obesity, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes. In some individuals, it can progress to inflammation and scarring of the liver, and in advanced cases, it can lead to liver failure.

Researchers from the National Institute of Digestive Diseases in Italy conducted a study involving 79 adults with fatty liver disease who had a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or lower (a BMI of 30 indicates that a person falls into the entry-level category of obesity, Class 1, according to the adult classification). The researchers randomly divided the participants into two groups. The first group was instructed to consume 200 grams of raw tomatoes daily, equivalent to approximately one large tomato, along with 50 grams of tomato sauce for six weeks.

In contrast, the second group followed a tomato-free diet throughout the study period.

After six weeks, the researchers used a specialized test to measure the percentage of fat in the liver, and it was found that the fat decreased in the individuals of both groups, but the decrease was greater in the group that ate tomatoes.

The percentage of fat in the liver of this group decreased by about 11% compared to its level at the beginning of the study, compared to about 6% in the group that did not eat tomatoes.

Despite this result, the researchers did not record a significant improvement in other indicators of liver health or general health, including liver stiffness, fibrosis markers, liver enzymes, cholesterol levels, blood sugar, and body composition.

It is worth noting that the exact reason behind the reduction in liver fat is still unknown, but researchers suggest that compounds and nutrients found in tomatoes, which have anti-inflammatory properties, may have contributed to this result.

The study thus indicates that adding tomatoes to the diet may be beneficial in reducing liver fat, but it does not prove that eating them alone cures fatty liver disease or prevents its development and complications.

The study was published in the journal Nutrients