Eating tomatoes or taking lycopene supplements does not lower blood pressure in adults. A large analysis of 34 clinical trials found no significant change in either the top or bottom blood pressure numbers.
See the scientific wording
Lycopene and tomato consumption does not significantly affect systolic or diastolic blood pressure in adults, as demonstrated by a meta-analysis of 34 randomized controlled trials.
Backed by science
One low-scoring study supports this claim, so treat this as an early signal rather than settled science.
What the research says
1 study reviewedSupporting (1)
Systematic Review With Meta-AnalysisMeta-analysis2023
The study reviewed 34 experiments and found that eating tomatoes or taking lycopene did not lower blood pressure, which matches what the claim says.
Contradicting (0)
No contradicting studies found yet
That doesn't mean it's settled — it just means no study has tested the opposite.
Quality-weighted scoring: we follow the GRADE framework — each study is rated High, Moderate, Low, or Very Low based on study design, methodology rigor, and risk of bias. A single high-quality RCT can outweigh several weaker observational studies.
Scores reflect study quality, not just count.
Eating tomatoes or taking lycopene does not change blood pressure because the body does not have a way to use lycopene to lower blood pressure. Lycopene molecules travel in the blood but do not interact with the systems that control blood pressure, so blood pressure stays the same.
Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting study
How Fit Body Science checks a claim
- 1
We isolate the claim
Health advice from videos, articles and studies is broken down into single, testable claims.
- 2
We find the research
Each claim is matched against peer-reviewed studies, with every source cited by DOI.
- 3
We grade the evidence
Studies are scored on methodology, statistical rigor, transparency and publication quality.
The fitness and health internet is full of confident claims. We check them against real research.
Every claim on this site is traced back to peer-reviewed studies, scored on methodology and reporting quality, and given a verdict you can audit yourself — sources, DOIs and all.
- Full evidence breakdown and mechanism chains
- Ask our AI anything about a claim or its studies
- Get notified when new research changes a verdict
Eating tomatoes or taking lycopene supplements does not lower blood pressure in adults. A large analysis of 34 clinical trials found no significant change in either the top or bottom blood pressure numbers.
Mechanism
1 studyMany studies looked at whether eating tomatoes or taking lycopene lowers blood pressure, but they found no change. Since no one studied how lycopene might work in the body to affect blood pressure, we only know that it does not. The simplest reason is that lycopene does not have any effect on the systems that control blood pressure.
Eating tomatoes or taking lycopene does not change blood pressure because the body does not have a way to use lycopene to lower blood pressure. Lycopene molecules travel in the blood but do not interact with the systems that control blood pressure, so blood pressure stays the same.
Lycopene is absorbed into circulation but does not bind to or activate endothelial receptors that trigger vasodilation.
No significant modulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase occurs, so nitric oxide production remains unchanged.
Without enhanced vasodilation or altered vascular resistance, systemic blood pressure does not change.
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
Community contributions welcome
The effects of lycopene and tomato consumption on cardiovascular risk factors in adults: a Grade assessment systematic review and meta-analysis.
The study reviewed 34 experiments and found that eating tomatoes or taking lycopene did not lower blood pressure, which matches what the claim says.
Contradicting (0)
Community contributions welcome
Score Breakdown
No multi-axis breakdown available yet. The overall Pro / Against score above is the best signal.
- No clinical evidence is available; the score reflects mechanistic plausibility only.
What Would Prove This
Per GRADE and EBM methodology, here is what ideal scientific evidence would look like to definitively prove or disprove this claim, ordered from strongest to weakest.
Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of RCTs on Lycopene and Tomato Intake and Blood Pressure in Adults
Comprehensive search of databases for RCTs in adults (normotensive or hypertensive) comparing lycopene supplementation or tomato product consumption to placebo or control, measuring systolic and diastolic blood pressure as primary outcomes, with follow-up of at least 4 weeks.
Double-Blind RCT of Lycopene Supplementation vs Placebo on Blood Pressure in Hypertensive Adults
Double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in hypertensive adults aged 30-70, with lycopene 15 mg/day or identical placebo for 12 weeks, measuring 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure as primary outcome.
Prospective Cohort Study on Long-Term Tomato Consumption and Hypertension Incidence
Large prospective cohort (e.g., Nurses' Health Study) following adults without hypertension at baseline, with validated food frequency questionnaires every 4 years, measuring incidence of diagnosed hypertension over 10-20 years, adjusting for confounders.
Case-Control Study of Lycopene Intake and Hypertension Status
Enroll adults with newly diagnosed hypertension (cases) and matched controls without hypertension, assess dietary lycopene intake via questionnaire or biomarker, compute odds ratios adjusted for age, sex, BMI, and smoking.
Cross-Sectional Analysis of Serum Lycopene and Blood Pressure in a General Population
National health survey (e.g., NHANES) measuring serum lycopene and blood pressure in a representative sample of adults, analyzing correlation while adjusting for demographics and lifestyle factors.