Tomatoes: An Extensive Review of the Associated Health Impacts of Tomatoes and Factors That Can Affect Their Cultivation

Abstract

This review outlines the health benefits associated with the regular consumption of tomatoes and tomato products. The first section provides a detailed account of the horticultural techniques that can impact the quality of the fruit and its nutritional properties, including water availability, light intensity, temperature, and growing media. The next section provides information on the components of tomato that are likely to contribute to its health effects. The review then details some of the health benefits associated with tomato consumption, including anticancer properties, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases and skin health. This review also discusses the impact tomatoes can have on the gut microbiome and associated health benefits, including reducing the risk of inflammatory bowel diseases. Other health benefits of eating tomatoes are also discussed in relation to effects on diabetes, the immune response, exercise recovery, and fertility. Finally, this review also addresses the negative effects that can occur as a result of overconsumption of tomato products and lycopene supplements.

Bioaccessibility of Macrominerals and Trace Elements from Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) Farmers’ Varieties

“…The bioavailability of Fe is also reduced by tannins, whose concentration in plants varies depending on the species. Tomato fruits contain oxalate [46], which is an antinutritional factor that negatively affects the bioaccessibility of minerals, as it forms insoluble salts with Ca 2+ , Fe 2+ , and Mg 2+ , making these minerals unavailable for human nutrition [45]. Kyomugasho et al [47] investigated the bioaccessibility of Ca and Fe in tomato purées by simulating in vitro digestion.…”

A Diet Supplemented with Polyphenols, Prebiotics and Omega-3 Fatty Acids Modulates the Intestinal Microbiota and Improves the Profile of Metabolites Linked with Anxiety in Dogs

“…Dietary polyphenols are known to confer many beneficial health effects, including amelioration of inflammation, oxidative stress, and neurodegeneration [ 26 , 27 ]. In particular, citrus fruits [ 28 , 29 ], spinach [ 30 , 31 ], carrots [ 32 ], and tomatoes [ 33 , 34 ] serve as excellent sources of polyphenols and prebiotics. In addition, tomato juice was shown to reduce anxiolytic activity in mice [ 35 ], and tomato consumption confers numerous other beneficial health effects [ 36 ].…”

Carotenoid Recovery from Tomato Processing By-Products through Green Chemistry

“…Tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum) are the world's second-most important vegetable crop and a key component of the Mediterranean diet, with a global production of over 186 million tons in 2020, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO, 2020, https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QCL, accessed date 25 April 2022). Tomato consumption is linked to a series of health benefits such as lower risk of inflammatory processes and chronic diseases, reduced risk of developing carcinogenesis, and the inhibition of lowdensity lipoprotein oxidation, which helps to lower blood cholesterol levels in humans [1,2].…”