Evidence supporting the use of: Tomato
For the body system: Prostate

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 3

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is commonly associated with prostate health due to its high content of lycopene, a carotenoid pigment. Scientific interest in tomatoes and prostate health arises from epidemiological studies suggesting that higher intake of tomatoes and tomato-based products correlates with a lower risk of prostate cancer. The proposed mechanism involves lycopene’s antioxidant properties, which may protect cells from oxidative damage and modulate pathways involved in cancer development.

Several observational studies and meta-analyses have reported an inverse association between tomato or lycopene intake and prostate cancer risk, although results are not entirely consistent. For example, a 2014 meta-analysis published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found a modest reduction in prostate cancer risk with higher dietary lycopene intake. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) offer mixed results; some show reduced prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels or markers of oxidative stress with lycopene supplementation, but others find no significant effect.

Overall, while there is scientific validation—primarily from observational data and some mechanistic studies—the evidence is not definitive. Tomatoes are a healthy food choice and may modestly support prostate health, but they should not be relied upon as a sole preventive or therapeutic measure for prostate conditions.

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