Colorless Tomato Compound Outperforms Lycopene in Preventing Fatty Liver in Mice
Tufts University researchers found that phytoene, a colorless precursor to lycopene, significantly reduced fatty liver disease in mice fed a high-carbohydrate diet. The protective effect depended on the body breaking down phytoene into smaller metabolites, as mice lacking specific enzymes showed no benefit despite high phytoene levels. This suggests that pale or golden tomatoes, which retain more phytoene, may offer distinct liver health advantages over red varieties.
Key points
- Phytoene reduced liver fat accumulation in mice over a 24-week period, outperforming expectations for lycopene alone.
- The protective effect required the presence of enzymes BCO1 and BCO2 to convert phytoene into active metabolites.
- Mice lacking these enzymes accumulated high levels of phytoene but suffered no liver protection, indicating the compound must be processed to work.
- The study suggests phytoene activates SIRT1 pathways, shifting liver metabolism toward burning fat rather than storing it.
- Female mice absorbed and retained more phytoene than males, hinting at sex-based differences in efficacy.
Background
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease affects up to 38% of U.S. adults, with prevalence rising to 75% among those with obesity or diabetes. While previous studies linked whole tomatoes to liver health, the specific role of phytoene, a colorless carotenoid found in pale and golden tomatoes, had not been isolated. This research builds on earlier findings that whole tomato powder often outperforms purified lycopene in animal models, suggesting multiple compounds contribute to the benefit.
How outlets are covering it
SciTechDaily emphasizes that phytoene is more readily absorbed than lycopene and highlights its presence in common foods like carrots and watermelon. StudyFinds focuses on the enzymatic requirement, noting that phytoene is ineffective without BCO1 and BCO2 processing, and points out that pale tomatoes contain higher phytoene levels. Both sources agree that the study was conducted in mice using purified phytoene, not whole tomatoes, and caution that human trials are needed to confirm these findings. StudyFinds also notes that gut microbiome changes were not the primary driver of the liver protection, unlike some previous whole-tomato studies.
Why it matters
Identifying phytoene as a key protective agent could shift dietary recommendations toward pale and golden tomatoes, which are often overlooked. Understanding the enzymatic processing of phytoene may help explain why some individuals respond differently to dietary interventions for fatty liver disease, a condition affecting a significant portion of the global population.
What to watch
Researchers will need to identify the specific metabolites produced from phytoene that confer liver protection. Future studies should determine if these benefits translate to humans and whether consuming phytoene-rich foods can prevent or slow the progression of metabolic liver disease in high-risk populations.
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