{
  "id": 4002132,
  "title": "Tomato compound may help protect against fatty liver disease",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/tomato-compound-may-help-protect-against-fatty-liver-disease",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-08-28T17:49:57.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Futurity",
    "slug": "futurity",
    "url": "https://www.futurity.org/tomatoes-fatty-liver-disease-3343972/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A recent study from Tufts University indicates that a compound found in tomatoes, known as phytoene, may help safeguard against fatty liver disease—a condition plaguing over one-third of American adults. While lycopene, a well-known nutrient in tomatoes, has been traditionally highlighted, this research emphasizes the potential of phytoene, a colorless precursor to lycopene, as a protective factor. The study, published in Molecular Nutrition & Food Science, discovered that mice administered phytoene exhibited diminished fatty liver disease severity when compared to those fed an unhealthy diet without the supplement. Phytoene, though not visible in ripe red tomatoes, serves as a foundational element for the synthesis of lycopene and other carotenoids responsible for the vivid hues of numerous fruits and vegetables. Approximately 100 million adults in the United States, and up to 75% of those with obesity or diabetes, are estimated to suffer from metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, characterized by an excessive buildup of fat in liver cells, potentially leading to inflammation, liver damage, and cirrhosis. Previous research has noted that tomatoes may contribute to liver protection, yet tomato powder has shown superior liver-protective effects over purified lycopene in animal trials, suggesting other tomato compounds are involved. Lead author Na Youn Lee, a doctoral candidate at Tufts University, notes that both lycopene and phytoene are present in significant quantities in tomatoes and tomato products. However, phytoene is reportedly more readily absorbed by the human body. In the study, two groups of mice were fed a high-refined-carbohydrate diet for six months to simulate human dietary patterns associated with fatty liver disease, with half of the mice receiving phytoene supplementation. This supplementation, equivalent to consuming roughly three to four medium-sized raw tomatoes or 100 grams of tomato paste daily, resulted in markedly less severe fatty liver disease in the phytoene group compared to the control group. The researchers found that phytoene activated essential proteins involved in liver metabolism, promoting the burning of excess fat for energy instead of its accumulation. Moreover, mice lacking the enzymes necessary to metabolize phytoene accumulated higher levels of the compound without experiencing the same liver-protective benefits, indicating the potential role of specific metabolic pathways. The study also revealed that females accumulated more phytoene in the liver than males, hinting at the influence of sex on phytoene absorption and metabolism. Future research could investigate whether these sex-based differences impact the compound's protective effects against fatty liver disease. Phytoene, abundant in yellow, orange, and red tomatoes as well as carrots, red peppers, pink grapefruit, watermelon, and apricots, could be a valuable addition to dietary strategies aimed at preventing or managing metabolic liver disease in high-risk individuals. The findings, supported by grants from the USDA Agricultural Research Service and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, underscore the potential of dietary components like phytoene in combatting liver health issues.",
  "summary": "Phytoene, a colorless precursor of lycopene, may contribute to tomatoes' protective effects against a form of chronic fatty liver disease.",
  "key_points": [
    "Tomato compound phytoene may protect against fatty liver disease",
    "Phytoene, colorless precursor to lycopene, less absorbed than lycopene",
    "Phytoene activates liver metabolism proteins to burn excess fat"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}