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Source study found

Story checked

What happened to people’s brains when they ate tomato paste every day (opens in a new tab)

nypost.com · 2026-09-20

Short answerEvidenceSource

Short answer

Mostly not supported

Mostly not supported.

3 claims go further than the study. One other point was not covered by the paper.

  • 1 supported
  • 3 overstated
  • 1 not covered

Checked against the study summary. The full text wasn't available, so some details couldn't be settled either way.

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NewsLink checks it

Mostly not supported

Three of five claims overstate the study. One of five checks out. One claim the study doesn't address.

  • 1 supported
  • 3 overstated
  • 1 not covered
Open claim evidence
3
Source paper

Source layer

The 2 papers the story cites

Source study separated from background citations.

The research anchor for the report.

Then inspect each claim

Evidence layer

Claim by claim

Each claim gets a verdict. Expand it to see the evidence directly below.

5 claims in this story

Showing all 5 claimsChoose a verdict to focus the list.

Claim 1 of 5OverstatedResearchers in Spain tested how tomatoes impact the cognitive function of healthy middle-aged adults, and it may be all thanks to one antioxidant, lycopene.View evidenceHide evidence

Why this verdict

The paper profile supports that a randomized tomato-paste intervention tested cognitive outcomes in healthy middle-aged adults and measured lycopene/BDNF-related biomarkers. However, the lead framing that benefits 'may be all thanks to' lycopene overstates the abstract-level evidence: the intervention was concentrated tomato paste, not isolated lycopene, and the profile does not establish lycopene as the specific causal ingredient.

1

Study evidence

Daily concentrated tomato paste intake improved selective attention and processing speed compared with a lycopene-restricted control diet.Concentration performance +7.2 points; processing speed +8.3 points

“A randomized, two-period crossover trial ... was conducted in 47 healthy adults aged 40-55 years assigned to two 3-month interventions separated by a 1-month washout”
2

Study evidence

Plasma BDNF exhibited a borderline increase during the tomato intake period compared with the lycopene-restricted control period.Mean difference 15.2 ng/mL (described as borderline increase in abstract)

“... alongside plasma lycopene and BDNF”
Claim 2 of 5OverstatedThe researchers enlisted 42 adults, split into a tomato-paste group and a group that restricted lycopene-rich foods, and 14 participants had brain scans showing potential changes in connectivity across large-scale brain networks.View evidenceHide evidence

As stated42 adults; 14 brain scans

Why this verdict

The profile supports 47 enrolled and 42 completers, and it supports resting-state fMRI findings of functional connectivity changes. However, the story's framing as participants being split into a tomato-paste group and a lycopene-restricted group is incomplete/misleading for a randomized two-period crossover trial in which participants underwent both interventions. The claim that 14 participants had brain scans is not verifiable from the abstract-level profile, which does not specify the usable imaging sample size.

1

Study evidence

Daily concentrated tomato paste intake improved selective attention and processing speed compared with a lycopene-restricted control diet.Concentration performance +7.2 points; processing speed +8.3 points

“A randomized, two-period crossover trial ... was conducted in 47 healthy adults aged 40-55 years assigned to two 3-month interventions separated by a 1-month washout”
2

Study evidence

Tomato intake was associated with reduced resting-state functional connectivity in frontoparietal and auditory networks compared with the control period.

“... and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).”
Claim 3 of 5OverstatedThe tomato group showed higher lycopene and BDNF levels, while the article says the low-lycopene group showed reduced resting-state connectivity in areas associated with attention.View evidenceHide evidence

Why this verdict

The control-period reduction in the dorsal attention network is consistent with the fMRI profile. But the biomarker wording overstates or exceeds the abstract evidence: BDNF is described as only a borderline increase, and plasma lycopene was measured but the abstract-level profile does not report the magnitude or direction of lycopene change. The 'tomato group'/'low-lycopene group' phrasing also simplifies the crossover design.

1

Study evidence

Plasma BDNF exhibited a borderline increase during the tomato intake period compared with the lycopene-restricted control period.Mean difference 15.2 ng/mL (described as borderline increase in abstract)

“... alongside plasma lycopene and BDNF”
2

Study evidence

Tomato intake was associated with reduced resting-state functional connectivity in frontoparietal and auditory networks compared with the control period.

“... and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).”
Claim 4 of 5Not coveredThe study, published in Antioxidants, found that consuming 35 grams of tomato paste daily for three months may enhance selective attention and boost associative memory.View evidenceHide evidence

As stated35 grams daily for three months

Why this verdict

The abstract-level profile supports the hedged claim that tomato paste intake over three months was reported to improve selective attention and associative memory. But the specific fixed dose of 35 grams daily is not verifiable from the supplied abstract profile, which describes the intervention as 0.5 g/kg body weight rather than a universal 35 g/day dose.

1

Study evidence

Daily concentrated tomato paste intake improved selective attention and processing speed compared with a lycopene-restricted control diet.Concentration performance +7.2 points; processing speed +8.3 points

“A randomized, two-period crossover trial ... was conducted in 47 healthy adults aged 40-55 years assigned to two 3-month interventions separated by a 1-month washout”
Claim 5 of 5SupportedThe story says the findings do not prove tomatoes directly improve brain function, and larger, longer studies are needed to see whether the cognitive effects are clinically meaningful and sustained.View evidenceHide evidence

Why this verdict

The story's caution is broadly aligned with the profile's abstract-level limitations: small sample, uncertain clinical relevance, limited statistical detail, and lack of longer-term evidence. Although the trial is randomized and interventional, the profile still supports caution about whether the reported cognitive changes are clinically meaningful, robust, and sustained.

1

Study evidence

Daily concentrated tomato paste intake improved selective attention and processing speed compared with a lycopene-restricted control diet.Concentration performance +7.2 points; processing speed +8.3 points

“A randomized, two-period crossover trial ... was conducted in 47 healthy adults aged 40-55 years assigned to two 3-month interventions separated by a 1-month washout”
2

Study evidence

Plasma BDNF exhibited a borderline increase during the tomato intake period compared with the lycopene-restricted control period.Mean difference 15.2 ng/mL (described as borderline increase in abstract)

“... alongside plasma lycopene and BDNF”
Then look for missing context

Context layer

What the story left out

Important study details the story did not include.

  • Randomized two-period crossover clinical trial in healthy adults aged 40–55, with two 3-month intervention periods separated by a 1-month washout.

    The story reflects that this was a clinical trial in healthy middle-aged adults, but it appears to describe parallel groups rather than the material crossover design and does not mention the washout.

    From Randomized two-period crossover dietary intervention

3 things the story did carry across
  • Cognitive testing found reported improvements in selective attention, processing speed, and associative memory after tomato intake compared with the lycopene-restricted control period.
  • Resting-state fMRI showed network connectivity changes, including reduced frontoparietal and auditory connectivity during the tomato period and reductions in the dorsal attention network during the control period.
  • Clinical relevance and durability of the cognitive changes are not established in the abstract-level profile.
Then read the study layer

Study layer

Study at a glance

Scan the study first. Expand only the parts you want to inspect.

Pieces of work

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Evidence read

study summary

Lead result

human in vivo

1Lead resulthuman in vivoDetermine whether daily concentrated tomato paste intake improves cognitive performance in healthy middle-aged adults versus a lycopene-restricted control diet in a randomized two-period crossover trial.Randomized two-period crossover dietary interventionExpand

In plain English

Randomized two-period crossover trial in 47 healthy adults (age 40–55; 42 completers) comparing daily concentrated tomato paste (0.5 g/kg body weight) for 3 months versus a lycopene-restricted control diet, with a 1-month washout. Cognitive performance was assessed with validated neuropsychological tests (d2-R, Face-Name Associative Memory Exam, Modified Wisconsin Card Sorting Test); plasma lycopene and BDNF and resting-state fMRI were measured as secondary/mechanistic endpoints. Compared with the control diet, tomato intake was reported to improve selective attention (concentration performance +7.2 points), processing speed (+8.3 points), and associative memory (face–name matching +0.8 points). Plasma BDNF showed a borderline mean increase (15.2 ng/mL) with tomato intake. Resting-state fMRI indicated changes in functional connectivity, including reduced connectivity in frontoparietal and auditory networks during the tomato period (with reductions in the dorsal attention network observed during the control period).

Key findings

  • Daily concentrated tomato paste intake improved selective attention and processing speed compared with a lycopene-restricted control diet.Concentration performance +7.2 points; processing speed +8.3 points
  • Tomato intake improved associative memory as measured by face–name matching.+0.8 points (face–name matching)
“A randomized, two-period crossover trial ... was conducted in 47 healthy adults aged 40-55 years assigned to two 3-month interventions separated by a 1-month washout”
What this piece can’t prove

4 further details could not be confirmed from the summary.

2human in vivoAssess whether tomato paste intake alters circulating biomarkers (plasma lycopene exposure and plasma BDNF) relative to the control diet within the crossover trial.randomized two-period crossover dietary interventionExpand

In plain English

Randomized two-period crossover trial in healthy adults (age 40–55) assessed plasma lycopene and plasma BDNF after 3-month periods of daily concentrated tomato paste (0.5 g/kg body weight) versus a lycopene-restricted control diet, separated by a 1-month washout. Plasma BDNF showed a borderline increase with tomato intake (mean difference 15.2 ng/mL). Plasma lycopene was measured but the abstract does not report the magnitude/direction of change.

Key findings

  • Plasma BDNF exhibited a borderline increase during the tomato intake period compared with the lycopene-restricted control period.Mean difference 15.2 ng/mL (described as borderline increase in abstract)
  • Plasma lycopene was measured as a biomarker of exposure during the trial, but the abstract does not report the effect of the tomato intervention on plasma lycopene levels.
“... alongside plasma lycopene and BDNF”
What this piece can’t prove

4 further details could not be confirmed from the summary.

3human in vivoExplore whether tomato paste intake modulates resting-state functional brain connectivity (fMRI network connectivity changes) versus control within the crossover trial.randomized crossover dietary interventionExpand

In plain English

In this randomized, two-period crossover trial in healthy middle-aged adults, resting-state fMRI was used to compare functional brain network connectivity after daily concentrated tomato paste intake versus a lycopene-restricted control period. The abstract reports that tomato intake was associated with changes in resting-state networks, specifically reduced connectivity in frontoparietal and auditory networks, whereas the control period was associated with reductions in the dorsal attention network. Imaging-methodologic details, statistical parameters, and effect sizes for connectivity changes are not provided in the abstract.

Key findings

  • Tomato intake was associated with reduced resting-state functional connectivity in frontoparietal and auditory networks compared with the control period.
  • During the control (lycopene-restricted) period, reductions were observed in the dorsal attention network.
“... and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).”
What this piece can’t prove
  • Moderate sample size reported (47 randomized, 42 completed); abstract does not specify how many participants contributed usable imaging data after quality control.
  • Crossover design includes a 1-month washout as reported, but the abstract does not report tests for carryover or period effects specific to imaging outcomes.

2 further details could not be confirmed from the summary.

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Papers considered

The selected paper, plus nearby candidates.

Crossref, PubMed, Europe PMC · 17 candidate papers

And 11 more candidates considered.