Daily Tomatoes May Help Reduce Liver Fat, Study Finds

ISLAMABAD: (News Desk) – Eating tomatoes regularly may help reduce liver fat in people with fatty liver disease, according to a new study conducted by researchers in Italy.

Fatty liver disease, often known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), affects a significant proportion of adults and is commonly associated with obesity, high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes. In more serious cases, the condition can cause liver inflammation and scarring and may eventually contribute to liver failure.

Tomatoes and Liver Fat

Researchers from Italy’s National Institute of Gastroenterology studied 79 adults with fatty liver disease who had a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or below.

The participants were divided into two groups. One group ate 200 grams of raw tomatoes each day for six weeks, roughly the amount found in one large tomato, along with 50 grams of tomato sauce.

The second group followed a similar dietary approach but avoided tomatoes.

At the end of the six-week period, researchers used specialised imaging scans to measure changes in the participants’ liver fat.

Greater Reduction Among Tomato Consumers

Liver fat levels declined in both groups during the study. However, the decrease was more pronounced among participants who consumed tomatoes regularly.

Researchers found that liver fat fell by approximately 11% from baseline in the tomato group, compared with around 6% among those who did not eat tomatoes.

The findings suggest that incorporating tomatoes into the diet could potentially benefit liver health. However, researchers cautioned that further studies are required to determine whether tomatoes themselves are directly responsible for the reduction in liver fat.

The study was published in the journal Nutrients and received funding from Italy’s Ministry of Health.

More Evidence Needed

Although the results are encouraging, the study does not prove that eating tomatoes alone can prevent or treat fatty liver disease. The research points to a possible association and highlights the need for larger and longer-term studies.

People with fatty liver disease should therefore not view tomatoes as a standalone treatment. Overall diet, physical activity, weight management and medical guidance remain important factors in managing the condition.