Phytoene in tomatoes may help protect against fatty liver disease

Aug 26 2026

New research suggests a lesser-known compound in tomatoes might assist defend in opposition to fatty liver illness, which impacts greater than 1 in 3 American adults.

For many years, the pink pigment lycopene has been thought-about the tomato’s star nutrient. However new analysis from Tufts College means that phytoene, a colorless precursor of lycopene, can also contribute to tomatoes’ protecting results in opposition to a type of power fatty liver disease affecting as much as 38% of U.S. adults.  

The research, revealed in Molecular Diet & Meals Science, discovered that mice given phytoene developed considerably much less fatty liver illness than mice fed the identical unhealthy weight-reduction plan with out the compound. Though it isn’t seen in ripe pink tomatoes, phytoene is a pure constructing block that vegetation convert into lycopene and different carotenoids—the pink, yellow, and orange pigments that give many vegatables and fruits their vibrant colours.  

As many as 100 million adults in the USA—and as much as 75% of Individuals with weight problems or diabetes—are estimated to have metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver illness. On this situation, an excessive amount of fats builds up in liver cells. Over time, this extreme fats accumulation may cause liver inflammation and harm that, in additional superior circumstances, results in scarring of the liver known as cirrhosis.  

Scientists have recognized for years that tomatoes might assist defend the liver. But tomato powder has outperformed purified lycopene in defending the liver in animal research, suggesting that different compounds in tomatoes can also contribute to those helpful results.

Each lycopene and phytoene are present in substantial quantities in tomatoes and tomato merchandise. However we all know from earlier analysis that phytoene is definitely extra readily absorbed by the physique.”

Na Youn Lee, research’s lead writer and Ph.D. candidate on the Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman Faculty of Diet Science and Coverage, Tufts College

For the brand new research, the researchers fed two teams of mice a high-refined-carbohydrate weight-reduction plan for six months to imitate dietary patterns related to fatty liver illness in people, together with excessive consumption of sugary meals and drinks. Half of the mice additionally acquired phytoene supplementation at a dose equal to an individual consuming about three to 4 medium-sized uncooked tomatoes or 100 grams of tomato paste—or slightly greater than a 3rd of a cup—per day.

The crew then in contrast liver well being, metabolism, and intestine micro organism within the mice that acquired phytoene with people who didn’t. The scientists additionally examined variations between female and male mice, in addition to between regular mice and mice missing two enzymes concerned in changing carotenoids into biologically lively metabolites.

The mice given phytoene developed a lot much less extreme fatty liver illness than people who didn’t obtain the complement. Quite than working by altering the intestine microbiome, phytoene appeared to activate a number of key proteins concerned in regulating liver metabolism, serving to the liver burn extra fats for vitality somewhat than permitting it to build up.

Mice that lacked the enzymes wanted to metabolize phytoene gathered a lot increased ranges of the compound of their our bodies however didn’t obtain the identical safety in opposition to fatty liver illness. This discovering means that the liver-protective results might come from smaller compounds produced when the physique breaks down phytoene. As a result of folks can have genetic variations within the enzymes that metabolize phytoene, extra analysis is required to establish these metabolites and decide whether or not some people might profit extra from phytoene than others.

The research additionally discovered that females gathered extra phytoene within the liver than males, suggesting that intercourse might affect how the physique absorbs or metabolizes the compound. The authors famous that future research may discover whether or not these variations have an effect on phytoene’s skill to guard in opposition to fatty liver illness.

“Our findings have broad implications, as phytoene shouldn’t be solely considerable in yellow, orange, and pink tomatoes, but in addition exists in lots of widespread vegatables and fruits, together with carrots, pink peppers, pink grapefruit, watermelon, and apricots,” stated Xiang-Dong Wang, the research’s senior writer and a senior scientist on the Jean Mayer USDA Human Diet Analysis Heart on Growing older at Tufts College. “Ought to additional analysis validate our findings, encouraging folks to eat extra phytoene-rich vegatables and fruits could possibly be a helpful technique to assist stop metabolic liver illness or sluggish its development in high-risk people.”