MASLD stands for Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease. It is the updated, modern medical name for what was previously called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This condition happens when too much fat builds up in the liver of people who drink little to no alcohol, and it is closely tied to weight and metabolism.
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), is the most common chronic liver condition in the world. Nearly 1 in 3 U.S. adults have MASLD, a condition characterised by excess fat accumulation in the liver closely tied to obesity, insulin resistance and cardiometabolic risk. If left unchecked, MASLD can progress to more serious liver disease, including cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Diet is one of the most crucial lifestyle factors in managing this, and the Mediterranean diet, in particular, has been linked to reductions in liver fat and improved metabolic outcomes. But now, a new randomised trial zeroes in on one specific Mediterranean diet staple—tomatoes—and finds that eating them daily may significantly lower a key measure of liver fat in people with MASLD, even without major weight loss.
Published in Nutrients, the study found that adults with MASLD who ate a combination of raw tomatoes and tomato sauce every day for six weeks had a significantly greater reduction in liver fat than a control group that avoided tomatoes. Essentially, the liver fat benefit appeared to be related to tomato consumption specifically, not to changes in body weight or metabolic health. The study's authors describe the findings as hypothesis-generating and note that larger, longer trials are needed to confirm the results and determine whether the CAP reduction is clinically significant in the long term.
How Does This Apply to Real Life?
If you have MASLD, reducing your liver fat is one of the most impactful steps you can take. This is the buildup of fat that triggers the inflammation that can eventually lead to scarring and serious liver damage. Since there's no approved medication for MASLD, diet is essential for improving your liver health.
Tomatoes are high in lycopene, an antioxidant that may help reduce oxidative stress and fat accumulation in your liver. The amounts used in the study were one large tomato and 3 to 4 tablespoons of tomato sauce daily—targets that many people can hit each day.
Written by Jessica Freeborn
Original article: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/eating-tomatoes-daily-may-help-decrease-fat-buildup-in-the-liver