- A small clinical study found that a tomato-soy juice reduced several blood markers of inflammation in adults with obesity after four weeks.
- The juice was rich in lycopene from tomatoes and isoflavones from soy, both of which have been linked with potential health benefits.
- The study was small, so the findings are promising but not enough to claim this drink is a treatment for inflammation.
A tomato-soy juice rich in plant compounds reduced several markers of inflammation in adults with obesity after four weeks.
The study tested a specially formulated drink containing high levels of lycopene and soy isoflavones.
Lycopene is the red pigment found in tomatoes.
Soy isoflavones are plant compounds that can have weak oestrogen-like effects in the body.
The trial included 12 healthy adults with obesity.
Participants drank two cans of tomato-soy juice each day for four weeks, then later drank a control tomato juice with lower levels of the key compounds.
Blood tests showed that only the tomato-soy juice significantly reduced three inflammatory proteins.
These were IL-5, IL-12p70 and GM-CSF.
There was also a fall in TNF-alpha, although that result was not statistically significant.
The researchers also studied urine metabolites and found changes suggesting the drink was having measurable effects on human biology.
Some changes appeared after both tomato drinks, which suggests tomatoes themselves may have biological activity.
But the soy-related metabolite changes were more specific to the tomato-soy juice.
This matters because obesity is often linked with chronic low-grade inflammation.
- Hidden immune loop may drive dangerous inflammation with age
- Calming inflammation may help prevent early macular degeneration
- Natural brakes on inflammation could lead to new treatments for chronic disease
Reducing that inflammation could be relevant for long-term health.
Still, this was a small study and should not be overplayed.
It does not prove that tomato-soy juice prevents disease or treats obesity-related inflammation in routine care.
But it does support further research into food-based approaches that may help calm inflammation.
The same drink is now being studied in people with pancreatitis, where inflammation is a major problem.
