Can tomatoes support liver health

A new study suggests that eating tomatoes every day may help reduce the amount of fat stored in the liver in people with fatty liver disease.

Non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) affects many adults and is often linked to obesity high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes. In some cases it can cause liver inflammation and scarring and may lead to serious liver problems.

Researchers from Italy’s National Institute of Gastroenterology studied 79 adults with fatty liver disease and a BMI of 30 or below. The participants were divided into two groups.

For six weeks one group ate 200 grams of raw tomatoes each day, along with 50 grams of tomato sauce.  The other group followed a diet without tomatoes.

After six weeks researchers used special scans to measure the amount of fat in the participants livers.

Both groups showed a reduction in liver fat but the decrease was greater among those who ate tomatoes.  Their liver fat fell by about 11% compared with the start of the study, while the tomato free group saw a reduction of around 6%.

The study published in the journal Nutrients and funded by Italy’s Ministry of Health suggests that regular tomato consumption may have a positive effect on liver health. However more research is needed to confirm the benefits.