Researchers wanted to see if drinking tomato juice could help reduce inflammation in people with obesity, since inflammation is linked to many health problems. Twenty-five adults with obesity drank 4 ounces of tomato juice daily for 3 weeks. The juice was rich in lycopene, a natural compound found in tomatoes. After 3 weeks, the participants showed lower levels of several inflammatory markers in their blood, suggesting the tomato juice may have helped reduce inflammation. However, the changes weren’t visible in their skin, and more research is needed to understand exactly how this works.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether drinking tomato juice high in lycopene (a natural red pigment) for 3 weeks could reduce inflammation in people with obesity
  • Who participated: 25 adults with obesity (average age 38.6 years, average BMI of 35.9). Most participants were very good at following the study instructions and drank almost all of their assigned juice.
  • Key finding: After 3 weeks, participants had lower levels of 7 different inflammatory markers in their blood, including markers like IL-6 and TNF-alpha that are known to increase disease risk. Blood lycopene levels increased significantly, but skin carotenoid levels did not change.
  • What it means for you: Drinking tomato juice may help reduce inflammation in people with obesity, which could potentially lower disease risk. However, this was a small, short-term study, so more research is needed before making strong recommendations. Talk to your doctor before making major dietary changes.

The Research Details

This was a small pilot study where 25 adults with obesity drank 4 ounces of tomato juice every day for 3 weeks. The juice was specially prepared to be very high in lycopene, a natural compound that gives tomatoes their red color. Researchers measured inflammation markers in the participants’ blood before and after the 3-week period using standard laboratory tests. They also measured lycopene levels in both blood and skin to see if the tomato juice was being absorbed and stored in the body.

Participants were asked to keep the rest of their diet the same and not change their eating habits otherwise, so the only change was adding the tomato juice. This helps researchers know that any changes in inflammation were likely due to the juice and not other dietary changes.

The researchers used a statistical test called the Wilcoxon signed-rank test to analyze whether the changes in inflammation markers were meaningful and not just due to chance.

This research approach is important because it helps researchers understand whether a simple dietary change—drinking tomato juice—might help reduce inflammation in people with obesity. Obesity is known to cause chronic inflammation throughout the body, which increases the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and other serious conditions. If a simple, affordable food could help reduce this inflammation, it could be a practical way for people to improve their health. This pilot study helps researchers decide whether larger, longer studies are worth doing.

This study has some strengths and some limitations to consider. The strengths include that participants were very adherent to the study (most drank 100% of their assigned juice), and the researchers used objective laboratory measurements rather than relying on self-reporting. However, the study is small (only 25 people), lasted only 3 weeks, and had no control group that drank a placebo juice instead. This means we can’t be completely sure the tomato juice caused the changes, or whether the effects would last longer than 3 weeks. The study was also registered after it started, which is not ideal scientific practice.

What the Results Show

The main finding was that after 3 weeks of drinking tomato juice high in lycopene, participants showed significant reductions in several inflammatory markers. Specifically, 7 out of 13 inflammatory markers tested showed meaningful decreases, including IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-17A, IL-12p70, IL-23, and IL-33. These are all markers that doctors measure to assess inflammation in the body.

Blood lycopene levels increased significantly after the 3-week period, confirming that the tomato juice was being absorbed and entering the bloodstream. The average increase was about 9.72 micrograms per deciliter, which was statistically significant (p = 0.029). This shows that the lycopene from the juice was actually reaching the body’s tissues.

However, there was an interesting finding: while blood lycopene increased, other carotenoids (similar compounds found in colorful vegetables) did not increase in the blood. This suggests that the tomato juice specifically boosted lycopene but didn’t affect other carotenoid levels.

One surprising finding was that skin carotenoid scores did not change after 3 weeks of drinking the tomato juice. Researchers sometimes measure carotenoids in the skin because these compounds accumulate there and can be measured non-invasively. The fact that skin carotenoids didn’t increase suggests that 3 weeks may not be long enough for lycopene to build up in the skin, or that the amount consumed wasn’t sufficient to produce visible changes in skin carotenoid levels. The effect sizes for the inflammatory marker changes ranged from small to moderate (Cohen’s d = 0.07 to 0.57), meaning some changes were more substantial than others.

This study adds to existing research showing that carotenoids and tomato products have anti-inflammatory properties. Previous studies have suggested that lycopene and other carotenoids can help reduce inflammation, but most of this research has been done in laboratory settings or in people without obesity. This study is valuable because it specifically tests whether these benefits apply to people with obesity, who have elevated inflammation to begin with. The finding that inflammation markers decreased aligns with previous research suggesting carotenoids have protective effects, though the short timeframe and small sample size mean this study is more exploratory than definitive.

This study has several important limitations. First, it’s very small with only 25 participants, so the results may not apply to larger populations. Second, it only lasted 3 weeks, which is quite short—we don’t know if the benefits would continue, increase, or disappear with longer consumption. Third, there was no control group that drank a placebo juice, so we can’t be completely certain the tomato juice caused the changes rather than other factors. Fourth, the study only measured inflammation markers and didn’t track whether participants actually experienced health improvements or felt better. Finally, the study didn’t measure whether these inflammation reductions would translate to reduced disease risk or better health outcomes over time.

The Bottom Line

Based on this pilot study, drinking tomato juice appears to be a safe way that may help reduce inflammation in people with obesity. However, the evidence is still preliminary (low to moderate confidence level). This study suggests it’s worth investigating further, but it’s too early to make strong recommendations. If you have obesity and are interested in reducing inflammation, tomato juice could be a reasonable addition to a healthy diet, but it should not replace other proven strategies like exercise, weight loss, and eating more vegetables. Always consult with your doctor or registered dietitian before making significant dietary changes, especially if you take medications or have other health conditions.

This research is most relevant to adults with obesity who are looking for ways to reduce inflammation and lower their disease risk. It may also be of interest to people with metabolic syndrome or prediabetes, conditions often associated with inflammation. However, this study should not be considered definitive evidence for anyone. People taking blood thinners or certain medications should check with their doctor before significantly increasing tomato juice intake. The findings are less clear for people without obesity, since the study only included people with obesity.

In this study, changes in inflammatory markers were detected after just 3 weeks of daily tomato juice consumption. However, this doesn’t mean you should expect dramatic health improvements in 3 weeks. Inflammation reduction is just one piece of the puzzle for improving health. Real-world health benefits like weight loss, improved blood sugar control, or reduced disease risk typically take much longer—usually weeks to months of consistent healthy habits. The skin carotenoid changes didn’t appear in 3 weeks, suggesting that some benefits may take longer to develop.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track daily tomato juice consumption (4 ounces per day) and monitor inflammatory markers if available through your healthcare provider. Users could log: (1) whether they drank their daily 4 ounces of tomato juice (yes/no), (2) any inflammatory symptoms they notice (joint pain, fatigue, swelling), and (3) energy levels throughout the day. If users have access to blood work, they could track C-reactive protein or other inflammation markers over time.
  • Users can set a daily reminder to drink 4 ounces of tomato juice at the same time each day (such as with breakfast or lunch). The app could suggest pairing tomato juice with other anti-inflammatory foods like leafy greens, berries, or fatty fish to maximize potential benefits. Users could also track whether they’re maintaining their regular diet and not adding extra calories from the juice, since the study required participants to keep their total calorie intake the same.
  • For long-term tracking, users should monitor their adherence to daily tomato juice intake over weeks and months, not just days. The app could generate weekly adherence reports showing what percentage of days they drank the juice. Users should also track any changes in how they feel (energy, inflammation symptoms) and, if possible, get blood work done every 3-6 months to measure actual inflammatory markers. This creates accountability and helps users see whether the habit is working for them personally.

This research is a small pilot study and should not be considered definitive medical advice. The findings are preliminary and based on only 25 participants over 3 weeks. Before making significant dietary changes, especially if you have obesity, diabetes, heart disease, or take medications (particularly blood thinners), consult with your doctor or registered dietitian. Tomato juice is not a substitute for proven treatments like exercise, weight loss, or prescribed medications. Individual results may vary, and this study does not prove that tomato juice will prevent disease or improve health outcomes. Always seek professional medical guidance for personalized nutrition and health recommendations.