TOMATO: Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing and Reviews

Overview

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is a commonly eaten fruit that grows on a vine. It contains many nutrients, including an antioxidant called lycopene.

The lycopene in tomato is thought to play a role in preventing cancer. It's easier for the body to use lycopene that comes from tomato products, such as tomato paste or tomato juice, than from fresh tomatoes.

People use tomato for cancer prevention, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, osteoarthritis, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

Don't confuse tomato with lycopene, the antioxidant found in tomatoes.

Uses & Effectiveness

Possibly Ineffective for

Bladder cancer. Eating more tomato products does not seem to decrease the risk of bladder cancer.
Breast cancer. Eating more tomato products does not seem to decrease the risk of breast cancer.
Diabetes. Eating more tomato products does not seem to decrease the risk of diabetes. It also doesn't seem to reduce blood sugar levels in people with diabetes.

There is interest in using tomato for a number of other purposes, but there isn't enough reliable information to say whether it might be helpful.

Side Effects

When taken by mouth: Tomatoes are commonly consumed in foods. A specific tomato extract (Lyc-O-Mato) is possibly safe when used for up to eight weeks. But large amounts of tomato leaf or green tomatoes are possibly unsafe. In large amounts, tomato leaves or green tomatoes can cause poisoning, potentially leading to serious side effects and death.

There isn't enough reliable information to know if tomato vine is safe or what the side effects might be.

Special Precautions and Warnings

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Tomato fruit is commonly consumed in foods while pregnant and breast-feeding. But there isn't enough reliable information to know if tomato extract is safe or what the side effects might be. Stay on the safe side and stick to food amounts.

Interactions

We currently have no information for TOMATO overview.

Dosing

The tomato fruit is commonly consumed in foods.

As medicine, tomato extracts have most often been used based on their lycopene content. Typical doses for adults are 15-30 mg of lycopene by mouth daily for up to 8 weeks. Speak with a healthcare provider to find out what dose might be best for a specific condition.

View References

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CONDITIONS OF USE AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.

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