Study Finds Tomato Compound Phytoene May Help Protect Against Fatty Liver - Video

A lesser-known compound found in tomatoes may help protect against fatty liver disease, according to new research from Tufts University. The study suggests that phytoene, a colorless precursor of lycopene, could have liver-protective effects beyond those associated with the tomato’s better-known antioxidant.

Published in Molecular Nutrition & Food Science, the study found that mice given phytoene developed substantially less severe fatty liver disease than mice fed the same unhealthy diet without the compound.

Fatty liver disease, now commonly referred to as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), affects up to 38% of U.S. adults. It occurs when excess fat accumulates in liver cells and can eventually lead to inflammation, liver damage and cirrhosis.

Researchers fed mice a high-refined-carbohydrate diet for six months to mimic dietary patterns associated with fatty liver disease. Some mice also received phytoene supplementation equivalent to consuming approximately three to four medium-sized raw tomatoes or 100 grams of tomato paste daily.

The phytoene-treated mice developed significantly less liver fat. Researchers found that the compound appeared to activate proteins involved in liver metabolism, helping the organ burn excess fat for energy rather than allowing it to accumulate.

Interestingly, the researchers found that mice unable to properly metabolize phytoene did not receive the same protective effect, suggesting that metabolites produced when the body breaks down phytoene may be responsible for the benefits.

The study also identified potential sex-related differences, with female mice accumulating more phytoene in the liver than males.

Phytoene is also found in carrots, red peppers, pink grapefruit, watermelon and apricots. However, researchers stress that these findings come from animal experiments and do not yet prove that phytoene prevents or treats fatty liver disease in humans.

Further research is needed to determine whether the findings translate to people and whether genetic differences in phytoene metabolism influence its potential benefits.

REFERENCE: Lee, N. Y., et al. (2026). Phytoene, a Precursor of Lycopene in Tomatoes, Protects Against Metabolic Dysfunction‐Associated Steatotic Liver Disease in Mice. Molecular Nutrition & Food Research. DOI: 10.1002/mnfr.70596