TOMATO: Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing and Reviews

Overview

Tomato is a plant. The fruit is a familiar food, but the fruit, leaf, and vine are also sometimes used to make medicine.

Some people use tomato for high blood pressure, osteoarthritis, cancer, and many other uses, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

How does it work ?

Tomatoes contain a chemical called lycopene, which is thought to play a role in preventing cancer. It's easier for the body to use lycopene that comes from tomato products, such as tomato paste or tomato juice, than from fresh tomatoes. Tomato might also help reduce the risk of heart disease and sun damage.

US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Purdue University researchers are developing a tomato that contains more than twice as much lycopene and has a longer shelf life than currently available tomatoes. The tomato, which is still in development, is modified with a yeast gene that slows the ripening process, allowing more time for lycopene to accumulate. Researchers think it will be several years before this tomato is on store shelves.

Uses & Effectiveness ?

Possibly Ineffective for

Bladder cancer. Eating more tomato products does not seem to decrease the risk of bladder cancer.
Breast cancer. Eating more tomato products does not seem to decrease the risk of breast cancer.
Diabetes. Eating more tomato products does not seem to decrease the risk of diabetes. It also doesn't seem to reduce blood sugar levels in people with diabetes.

Insufficient Evidence for

Heart disease. Limited research has found that eating more tomato-based foods is associated with a decreased risk of heart attack and stroke.
Cataracts. Eating more than 3 servings of tomatoes each week may help to prevent cataracts.
Cervical cancer. Limited research has found that eating more tomatoes is linked with a lower risk of developing cervical cancer.
Colon cancer, rectal cancer. Some studies suggest that tomatoes or tomato-based products may help to reduce the chance of getting this type of cancer. But other studies have found no benefit.
Asthma caused by exercise. Early research suggests that taking a specific tomato extract (Lyc-O-Mato) seems to reduce symptoms in people who get asthma attacks from exercise.
Stomach cancer. So far, research studies do not agree on whether or not tomatoes or tomato-based products can help prevent stomach cancer.
High levels of cholesterol or other fats (lipids) in the blood (hyperlipidemia). Tomatoes containing the chemical lycopene seem to reduce lipid levels in the blood.
High blood pressure. Early research shows that a specific tomato extract (Lyc-O-Mato) might lower blood pressure by a small amount in people with high blood pressure.
Lung cancer. Some research suggests that tomatoes or tomato-based products can help prevent lung cancer. But these studies have been criticized because they didn't take people's smoking behavior into account. Higher quality, large-scale studies do not show any link between eating tomato products and the risk for lung cancer.
Muscle strength. Early research suggests that eating tomatoes more frequently has been linked to a slower decline in hand-grip strength in older adults.
Ovarian cancer. Some research suggests that eating more tomato or drinking more tomato juice doesn't seem to prevent ovarian cancer. But some research suggests that consuming tomato sauce two or more times per week does seem to lower the risk of developing ovarian cancer.
Pancreatic cancer. One large study shows that eating tomato or tomato-based products does not seem to prevent pancreatic cancer. But other studies suggest that raw tomato intake, and high tomato intake in general, is linked with a reduced chance of developing pancreatic cancer.
Prostate cancer. Some research suggests that the risk of getting prostate cancer is decreased modestly in men who eat tomato products, including tomatoes, tomato sauce, pizza, or tomato juice, one time or more per week. But other research has found no benefit.
Arthritis.
Common cold.
Chills.
Digestive disorders.
Other conditions.

More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of tomato for these uses.

View References

REFERENCES:

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Ried, K., Frank, O. R., and Stocks, N. P. Dark chocolate or tomato extract for prehypertension: a randomised controlled trial. BMC.Complement Altern.Med. 2009;9:22. View abstract.

Rizwan, M., Rodriguez-Blanco, I., Harbottle, A., Birch-Machin, M. A., Watson, R. E., and Rhodes, L. E. Tomato paste rich in lycopene protects against cutaneous photodamage in humans in vivo: a randomized controlled trial. Br.J.Dermatol. 2011;164(1):154-162. View abstract.

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CONDITIONS OF USE AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.

This copyrighted material is provided by Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Consumer Version. Information from this source is evidence-based and objective, and without commercial influence. For professional medical information on natural medicines, see Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Professional Version.
© Therapeutic Research Faculty 2020.

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TOMATO

Overview

How does it work ?

Uses & Effectiveness ?

Possibly Ineffective for

Insufficient Evidence for

Side Effects

Special Precautions and Warnings

Interactions ?

Dosing

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