Super Tomato

Tomatoes have antioxidant called lycopene that provide protection against UV rays.

15:45 07 November 2016

Eating tomatoes can provide protection against UV rays, German scientists have claimed. It has been found that the fruit offer another line of defence that shield the body from harmful UV radiation. 

 

In their study, the scientists gave participants a supplement called TNC (tomato nutrient complex) for 12 weeks. At the end of the treatment phase, the skin of the participants was exposed to two types of UV light with biopsies taken 24 hours later. These showed that participants were less likely to suffer from wrinkles and inflammation, two common side effects of sun damage. 

 

Professor Jean Krutmann, of Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine in Dusseldorf, said: 'There is growing evidence that dietary intervention can protect human skin against detrimental effects caused by solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

 

'To the best of our knowledge we show here for the first time tomato nutrient complex (TNC) as well as lutein do not only protect healthy human skin against UVB/A, but also against long wave UVA1 radiation and oral photo-protection of healthy human skin can be demonstrated.'

 

'Our study further supports the concept dietary strategies are beneficial for human skin in general and nutritional supplements of the exact kind used in this study are very effective in providing protection against UVA radiation-induced skin damage in particular.'