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Tomatoes

Tomatoes as a functional food: a meta-analysis linking tomato intake to prostate cancer risk, why case-control and cohort studies disagree, and limits.

Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.

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Overview

Tomatoes are the main dietary source of lycopene, a carotenoid. Cooked and processed tomato products have different lycopene availability; we did not find a source comparing them that we could read.

What the research shows

A meta-analysis of 24 studies (15,099 prostate cancer cases) found tomato intake was associated with lower prostate cancer risk (RR 0.86, 95% CI 0.75 to 0.98) with high heterogeneity (I2 72.7%). The result depended on study design: case-control studies RR 0.76 (0.61 to 0.94); cohort studies RR 0.96 (0.84 to 1.10, not significant). [1] Case-control studies ask people about past eating after diagnosis and are more prone to bias; cohort studies follow healthy people forward.

Proper evidence from randomized trials that tomatoes or lycopene prevent cancer was not found in the sources we read. PubMed's "tomato" count includes lycopene and agricultural research (see Research).

Safety and individual considerations

  • Tomatoes are generally safe; allergy or mouth irritation is possible.
  • Canned tomato products and sauces can be high in sodium; check the label. [2]

Related

Cruciferous vegetables · Nutrients and compounds

Frequently asked questions

Does lycopene prevent prostate cancer?

Not shown. Cohort studies in the meta-analysis found no significant association. [1]

References

  1. Xu X et al. Tomato consumption and prostate cancer risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Sci Rep 2016. PMID 27841367.
  2. U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020–2025. Check the site for the current edition.
Education, not medical advice. This page is for general information. It does not diagnose or treat any condition and is not a substitute for care from a qualified health professional. Natural does not automatically mean safe. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before changing your care, especially if you take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a health condition.