Full Breakdown
Daily Tomato Paste Linked to Small Gains in Attention and Memory
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Study Finds Tomato Paste May Boost Cognitive Performance
Spanish researchers conducted a randomized crossover trial to examine whether a lycopene-rich food influences cognition. Healthy adults aged 40-55 consumed about two tablespoons (?35 g) of concentrated tomato paste daily for three months, then followed a low-lycopene diet for another three-month period, with a one-month washout in between. The study, published in *Antioxidants* earlier this year, reported modest improvements in several neuropsychological tests after the tomato-paste phase.
Study Design and Key Findings
- Participants: 47 enrolled; 42 completed both diet phases.
- Dosage: 0.5 g of tomato paste per kilogram of body weight each day (?35 g total).
- Cognitive Gains: Average concentration scores rose 7.2 points, processing-speed scores increased 8.3 points, and associative-memory performance (matching faces with names) improved by 0.8 points.
- Biological Markers: Blood tests showed a borderline rise in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein linked to neuronal growth. Functional MRI of a small subset revealed altered resting-state connectivity in networks related to attention and cognition, suggesting more efficient brain communication, though the sample size precludes definitive conclusions.
Expert Commentary
Dr. John Showalter, an internal-medicine physician and chief operating officer of Linus Health, noted that the trial aligns with broader research indicating benefits of red, lycopene-rich foods for brain health. He emphasized that the findings do not prove tomato paste is a standalone cognitive enhancer, but rather that limiting lycopene-rich foods may impair brain function. Showalter also mentioned other lycopene sources such as watermelon, papaya, red peppers, ketchup, and sun-dried tomatoes.
Limitations and Future Research
The authors cautioned against overinterpreting the results. The study’s short duration, modest sample, and focus on healthy middle-aged adults limit its applicability to broader populations or to disease prevention. They highlighted that tomatoes contain multiple bioactive compounds, making it unclear whether lycopene alone drives the observed effects. Larger, longer-term trials are needed to determine whether regular tomato-paste consumption can meaningfully influence cognitive decline or dementia risk.