Tomato paste consumption significantly improves cognitive function and selective attention in healthy adults by boosting circulating lycopene and brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels, according to researchers at the University of Barcelona. The crossover clinical trial, published in the scientific journal Antioxidants and detailed by Science Alert, tested 42 participants over three-month dietary interventions to track how the bioactive compounds in tomatoes affect neurological health and large-scale brain network organization.
Clinical Trial Results Show Gains in Selective Attention
Researchers tracked 42 healthy adult participants who altered their diets to consume 35 grams of tomato paste daily for a period of three months. According to the study findings, participants exhibited measurable improvements in cognitive tests specifically targeting selective attention, alongside smaller improvements in associative memory. Out of the full cohort, 14 individuals underwent brain imaging scans that confirmed these functional neurological shifts.
Before the randomized trial began, participants observed a one-week washout period where they avoided lycopene-rich foods including tomatoes, watermelons, papayas, grapefruits, and guavas. The study utilized a crossover design, meaning every participant acted as their own control group by cycling through two distinct three-month diets—the daily tomato paste intervention and a low-lycopene alternative—separated by a one-month washout period to clear previous dietary impacts from their systems.
Lycopene and BDNF Levels Rise After Dietary Intervention
Blood tests administered after each dietary phase revealed clear physiological markers of the change. According to the University of Barcelona team, the tomato-rich diet drove a substantial increase in systemic lycopene levels. Furthermore, the concentration of BDNF—a critical protein supporting brain growth and neural plasticity—rose to a degree bordering statistical significance.
Brain imaging scans further indicated that regular tomato consumption helps promote the functional reorganization of large-scale neural networks. Researchers noted that this dietary shift appears to enhance nervous system efficiency and adaptability by reducing redundant interactions between separate brain networks. These findings provide concrete evidence that bioactive compounds capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier can actively support neurological health and help reduce nervous system inflammation.
Did you know? Lycopene is a potent antioxidant responsible for the characteristic red color of tomatoes, and it is capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier, and helping to reduce nervous system inflammation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much tomato paste was consumed daily in the study?
Participants in the University of Barcelona study consumed 35 grams of tomato paste daily for a duration of three months.
Which cognitive functions showed improvement during the trial?
Participants demonstrated noticeable improvements in selective attention and, to a lesser extent, associative memory during cognitive testing.
What biological changes were measured in the participants’ blood?
Blood analyses showed a significant surge in lycopene levels and a near-threshold increase in BDNF, the protein supporting brain growth.
What is a crossover clinical trial?
A crossover trial is a study design meaning that the participants were their own control group.
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