A new study suggests that drinking tomato-soy juice every day may help lower inflammation in people living with obesity. Researchers found that adults who drank the juice for four weeks had lower levels of certain inflammation-related proteins in their blood.
Inflammation is the body’s natural response to injury or illness. However, when inflammation continues for a long time, it can contribute to many health problems. Chronic inflammation has been linked to conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and obesity.
The study focused on a specially prepared tomato-soy juice. The drink was rich in two plant compounds called lycopene and soy isoflavones. Lycopene is the natural substance that gives tomatoes their red colour. Soy isoflavones are compounds found in soybeans that can act in a similar way to the hormone oestrogen.
Scientists believe both compounds have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Previous studies in animals and laboratory settings have suggested that these substances may help protect health and reduce inflammation.
Jessica Cooperstone, an associate professor at The Ohio State University, led the research. According to the researchers, the goal was to find out whether a food-based approach could reduce inflammation in a measurable way. The study was published in the journal Molecular Nutrion & Food Reasearch.
Twelve healthy adults with obesity took part in the study. Each participant drank two six-ounce cans of tomato-soy juice every day for four weeks. After a break period, they switched to control tomato juice for another four weeks.
The control drink was designed to be similar but contained much lower amounts of lycopene and did not include the added soy isoflavones. Researchers used this comparison to better understand whether the special compounds were responsible for any health effects. Blood samples were collected before and after each study period. The team examined cytokines, which are proteins produced by the immune system. High levels of some cytokines can be a sign of ongoing inflammation.
The results showed that the tomato-soy juice reduced three important inflammatory markers. These included Interleukin-5 (IL-5), Interleukin-12p70 (IL-12p70), and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF).
Researchers also observed a reduction in another inflammatory marker known as ‘tumour necrosis factor-alpha’ (TNF-alpha). However, the decrease was not large enough to be considered statistically significant. In contrast, the control tomato juice did not produce similar improvements. This suggests that the added lycopene and soy isoflavones may have played an important role in reducing inflammation.
The team also studied urine samples from participants. They looked for metabolites, which are substances created when the body processes food and carries out chemical reactions. Some metabolic changes appeared after drinking both types of juice. This indicates that tomatoes alone may offer certain health benefits. However, the tomato-soy juice caused additional changes linked to soy isoflavones, suggesting that the combination of ingredients may have unique effects.
Researchers believe these findings show that the juice is influencing biological processes inside the body. Even so, they say more studies are needed to fully understand how it works. The tomato-soy juice used in the study has an intriguing history. Years ago, Ohio State researchers developed the drink after studies suggested that tomato products and soy foods might lower the risk of prostate cancer. The tomatoes used in the juice were specially grown to contain high levels of lycopene.
Earlier research found that drinking the juice could reduce prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in some men with prostate cancer. Other studies have also linked tomatoes and soy to improvements in metabolic and inflammatory pathways. Because of the promising results, researchers have received funding for a new clinical trial. The upcoming study will investigate whether the same tomato-soy juice can help people suffering from pancreatitis.
Pancreatitis is a condition that causes inflammation of the pancreas. Current treatments mainly focus on managing pain and digestive symptoms. Researchers hope the juice may help reduce inflammation and improve quality of life for patients. Animal studies have already shown encouraging results. In those experiments, the tomato-soy drink reduced inflammation and lessened the severity of chronic pancreatitis.
Scientists believe nutrition could become an important tool for improving health. This study suggests that certain foods may naturally lower harmful inflammation, although further research is necessary. Future clinical trials will determine whether tomato-soy juice can provide lasting benefits for people with chronic inflammatory diseases.
