Small Study Links 2 Tablespoons of Tomato Paste to Higher Cognitive Scores

2 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 25

Forty-two adults ages 40 to 55 scored modestly better on attention, processing speed and associative memory tests after eating about two tablespoons of tomato paste daily for three months.
The randomized crossover trial had participants complete both a low-lycopene diet and a tomato-paste phase, with average gains of 7.2 points in concentration, 8.3 in processing speed and 0.8 in face-name matching.
Blood tests showed a borderline rise in BDNF, and brain scans in a small subset found resting-connectivity changes that researchers said could reflect more efficient brain communication.
Researchers said the findings are preliminary: the study does not show tomato paste prevents cognitive decline or disease, and the small sample requires larger follow-up trials.
Dr. John Showalter said the results may point less to tomato paste as a cognitive booster than to the risks of low lycopene intake, which is also found in foods such as watermelon, papaya and red peppers.