Scientists at Tufts University (USA) have found that the carotenoid pigment lycopene found in tomatoes reduces the risk of fatty liver disease, cancer and inflammation. This was announced in a press release on MedicalXpress.
During the study, newly born mice were injected with a carcinogen that promotes the formation of malignant tumors in the liver. Thereafter, the rodents were fed a diet high in fat. In this case, one of the groups of animals received in addition tomato powder.
It turned out that lycopene increased the amount and variety of beneficial microflora, which prevented the overgrowth of some bacteria that cause inflammation. At the same time, the likelihood of fatty liver disease and cancer decreased, which contributed to an unhealthy diet.
In addition, scientists demonstrated that tomato powder was more effective than lycopene alone. This is due to the presence of other beneficial compounds in tomatoes, including vitamin E, vitamin C, folates, minerals, phenolic compounds, and dietary fiber.
