![\"Tomato-soy](\"https:\/\/cdn.sci.news\/images\/enlarge13\/image_14795e-Tomato-Juice.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nTomato-soy juice contains high levels of lycopene and soy isoflavones.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe idea is, can we use food-based interventions to modulate inflammation?\u201d said Dr. Jessica Cooperstone, a researcher at the Ohio State University.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd can we test this in a rigorous way so that we can really see this is affecting inflammation, versus just saying something is anti-inflammatory?\u201d<\/p>\n
Lycopene is a carotenoid that gives tomatoes and other vegetables their colors, and soy isoflavones are flavonoids that mimic the action of the hormone estrogen. Both are phytochemicals that help plants thrive.<\/p>\n
Years ago, based on studies showing an association between diets high in either tomato products or soy and a lowered risk for prostate cancer, the researchers developed a drink made with tomatoes containing a high concentration of lycopene and enriched with soy isoflavone extract.<\/p>\n
Later research linked higher intake of the drink to reduced prostate-specific antigen levels in some men with prostate cancer, and studies elsewhere have suggested that tomatoes and soy, consumed separately or combined, can affect inflammatory and metabolic pathways related to obesity and other chronic illnesses.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s been enough compelling evidence that compounds from tomatoes and soy might be modulating inflammation that we decided to test this in people,\u201d Dr. Cooperstone said.<\/p>\n
In the new study, 12 healthy adults with obesity consumed two 6-ounce (177-ml) cans of tomato-soy juice every day for four weeks.<\/p>\n
After a washout period, they consumed the low-carotenoid control tomato juice for four weeks.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe hypothesis is that it\u2019s the lycopene from the tomatoes and the isoflavones from the soy that\u2019s inducing the effect, so we didn\u2019t want to have a control that\u2019s just water,\u201d Dr. Cooperstone said.<\/p>\n
The researchers took blood samples testing for cytokines \u2014 pro-inflammatory proteins produced by the immune system \u2014 before and after each four-week trial period.<\/p>\n
Only the tomato-soy juice resulted in significant reductions in three cytokines: interleukin (IL)-5, IL-12p70 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), as well as showing a downward trend in tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a) that was not statistically significant.<\/p>\n
They also analyzed participants\u2019 urine before and after each trial period for changes in metabolites, the molecular products of biochemical reactions that break down nutrients to produce energy and perform other essential functions.<\/p>\n
The findings showed that both the tomato-soy and control tomato juice led to some shared changes in the metabolite profiles, meaning some tomato-driven effects occurred in the absence of lycopene.<\/p>\n
Soy isoflavone metabolite shifts stood out among the changes induced by the tomato-soy juice.<\/p>\n
While further investigation is warranted, the changes provide additional evidence that this food-based intervention is affecting human biology.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is probably a function of the fact that there\u2019s more to our intervention agents than just these two compounds,\u201d Dr. Cooperstone said.<\/p>\n
\u201cUltimately, we want to have a better understanding of how the foods that we eat are relating to our health.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd when we really want to be sure, we need to test them in clinical trials. And that\u2019s what we\u2019re doing here.\u201d<\/p>\n
The scientists also found evidence in an animal model that the soy-tomato juice can reduce inflammation and the severity of chronic pancreatitis \u2014 data supporting the prediction in the current clinical trial that the intervention could improve outcomes for patients with pancreatitis.<\/p>\n
\u201cCare for patients with pancreatitis is palliative, focused on controlling pain and GI symptoms,\u201d Dr. Cooperstone said.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur hypothesis is that the tomato-soy juice may serve as an intervention to decrease inflammation and hopefully increase patients\u2019 quality of life.\u201d<\/p>\n