Effect of Tomato Paste Consumption on the Microbiota-gut-brain Axis in Healthy Adults (MITOS)

Development of Sustainable Tomato Products to Improve the Microbiota-gut-brain Axis: From Farm to Fork to Health (MITOS)

Tomatoes and tomato-based products could play an important role in modulating microbiota-gut-brain axis (MGBA) interactions due to their high content of fiber and phytochemicals. Phytochemical metabolites derived from the consumption of tomato-based products can act directly as neurotransmitters in the central nervous system, crossing the blood-brain barrier, or indirectly by modulating the MGBA. These metabolites can thus alter gut bacterial composition and brain biochemistry. Therefore, researchers propose a new interventional study to assess the impact of daily tomato consumption in the organism, and to evaluate the effect on the MGBA. The final aim of this study is to spread a message of the health benefits of tomato consumption for the general population.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Cognitive Function; Healthy Lifestyle; Microbiota
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Intervention A - Tomato paste; Other: Intervention B - Control

Detailed Description

To evaluate the possible changes in microbiota and cognitive skills after consumption of tomato paste in a crossover randomized controlled study. Fifty healthy adults subjects (aged 40-55 years and consisting of 50% males and 50% females to assess possible sex-based responses) will be included. Participants will sign the informed consent and carry out a washout period without consuming any tomatoes or tomato-based products during 1 week. Participants will consume a daily amount of 0.5 g of tomato paste / kg of body weight following the regular diet plus consumption of low to moderate tomato or tomato-based products and other sources of lycopene (experimental intervention), and the normal diet plus consumption of low to moderate tomato or tomato-based products and other sources of lycopene (control intervention) during 3 months. Biological samples (plasma, peripheral blood mononuclear cells, serum, 24-hours urine, feces, and saliva) will be obtained at baseline and the end of each arm of the trial.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 47
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Spain
  • Barcelona, Spain, 08028
    • Department of Nutrition, Food Sciences and Gastronomy. School of Farmacy and Food Sciences. University of Barcelona.

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Healthy adult subjects with BMI < 30 kg/m2
• Signed informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Participants with tomato allergy or intolerance
• Cardiovascular disease (cancer or diabetes)
• Mental disorders (e.g. depression, dementia, autism, etc.)
• Cardiovascular alterations in triglycerides or glucose
• Participants with body mass index (BMI) > 30 kg/m2
• Current smokers
• Frequent use of corticoids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
• Volunteers with extreme eating habits (i.e. Atkins diet, very high protein diets, etc.)
• Excessive alcohol consumption (>30 g/d for males and >20 g/d for females),
• Pregnant or lactating women

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Group AB (intervention / control); After a 1-week washout period avoiding consumption of tomato, tomato-based products and other food sources of lycopene (watermelon, papaya, grapefruit and lycopene supplements), participants will consume a daily amount of 0.5 g of tomato paste / kg of body weight following the regular diet plus consumption of low to moderate tomato or tomato-based products and lycopene containing foods during 3 months (intervention). Then they will return to their regular dietary pattern during 3 weeks. At the beginning of the first 4 month, participants will be encouraged to move into the second phase (control), before a 1-week washout period. The second phase or control consists in following their regular diet plus consumption of low to moderate tomato or tomato-based products and lycopene containing foods during the next 3 months.	Other: Intervention A - Tomato paste; Participants will consume a daily amount of 0.5 g of tomato paste / kg of body weight following the regular diet plus consumption of low to moderate tomato or tomato-based products and lycopene containing foods; Other: Intervention B - Control; Participants will consume the regular diet plus consumption of low to moderate tomato or tomato-based products and lycopene containing foods
Experimental: Group BA (control / intervention); After a 1-week washout period avoiding consumption of tomato, tomato-based products and other food sources of lycopene (watermelon, papaya, grapefruit, and lycopene supplements), participants will start the control intervention which consists of following their regular diet plus consumption of low to moderate tomato or tomato-based products and lycopene containing foods during 3 months (control). Then they will return to their regular diet during 3 weeks. At the beginning of the first 4 month, participants will be encouraged to move into the second phase (intervention), before a 1-week washout period. The intervention consist in consuming a daily amount of 0.5 g of tomato paste / kg of body weight diet plus consumption of low to moderate tomato or tomato-based products and lycopene containing foods during the next 3 months.	Other: Intervention A - Tomato paste; Participants will consume a daily amount of 0.5 g of tomato paste / kg of body weight following the regular diet plus consumption of low to moderate tomato or tomato-based products and lycopene containing foods; Other: Intervention B - Control; Participants will consume the regular diet plus consumption of low to moderate tomato or tomato-based products and lycopene containing foods

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Changes in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) after each intervention with tomato paste and the control intervention.	Serum samples will be analysed for mature BDNF using a Mature BDNF Rapid ELISA kit.	Baseline and after completed each intervention (3 months)
Changes in cognitive function (executive) after each intervention with tomato paste and the control intervention.	The Wisconsin Sorting Cards Test (WSCT) will assess strategic planning, organized searching, utilizing environmental feedback to shift cognitive sets, directing behaviour towards achieving a goal and modulating impulsive responding.	Baseline and after completed each intervention (3 months)
Changes in cognitive function (attention) after each intervention with tomato paste and the control intervention.	The d2 Test will meausure selective and sustained attention and visual scanning speed. Processing speed, rule compliance, and quality of performance will be assess in participants.	Baseline and after completed each intervention (3 months)
Changes in cognitive function (memory) after each intervention with tomato paste and the control intervention.	The face-name associative memory exam (FNAME) will assess associative memory function.Participants will be asked to remember a set of faces and the names they are paired with. After a 5-25 minute delay, participants will recall which of the faces and names they saw earlier.	Baseline and after completed each intervention (3 months)
Changes in cerebrovascular function after each intervention with tomato paste and the control intervention.	Cerebrovascular function will be measured using functional magnetic resonance imaging (FMRI), a non-invasive method for assessing brain activity. FMRI maps blood oxygenation levels in the brain and estimates changes in the blood flow that depends on metabolic function and is correlated with specific brain region activities	Baseline and after completed each intervention (3 months)
Changes in the gut microbiota after each intervention with tomato paste and the control intervention.	Fecal samples will be collected by the volunteers using a system for easy self-collection and stabilization of microbial DNA for gut microbiome profiling (OMNIgene - GUT). The genomic DNA will be extracted from fecal samples using the DNeasy PowerSoil Kit. Then, microbial profiling using 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequencing will be used to study microbial communities, specially bacterial phylogeny and taxonomy.	Baseline and after completed each intervention (3 months)
Changes in the polyphenols and carotenoids and their metabolites after each intervention with tomato paste and the control intervention.	Carotenoids and polyphenols, and their metabolites derived from intestinal gut microbiota will be identified and quantified in human plasma, urine, feces, and saliva samples using High Performance Liquid Chromatography HPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap-MS/MS and HPLC-MS/MS techniques.	Baseline and after completed each intervention (3 months)
Changes in the short-chain fatty acids in plasma and feces samples after each intervention with tomato paste and the control intervention.	After acidifying the fecal samples with formic acid, a quantification of short-chain fatty acids will be performed using gas chromatography by direct injection according to previously described methodology (Zhao et al., 2006).	Baseline and after completed each intervention (3 months)
Changes in bile acids in plasma and feces samples after each intervention with tomato paste and the control intervention.	Bile acids will be assayed using a validated liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) method	Baseline and after completed each intervention (3 months)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Changes in Body mass index after each intervention with tomato paste and the control intervention.	Body mass index (kg/m^2) will be calculated after measuring weight (kg) and height (meters).	Baseline and after completed each intervention (3 months)
Changes in waist-to-hip ratio with tomato paste and the control intervention.	Waist and hip circumferences (cm) will be measured in triplicate and then combined to report waist-to-hip ratio.	Baseline and after completed each intervention (3 months)
Changes in anthropometric measurements after each intervention with tomato paste and the control intervention.	Body mass index (kg/m^2) will be calculated after measure weight (kg) and height (meters). To evaluate waist-to-hip ratio, waist and hip circumferences (cm) will be measured in triplicate.	Baseline and after completed each intervention (3 months)
Changes in body composition after each intervention with tomato paste and the control intervention.	Body fat percentage will be measured using a bioelectrical impedance analysis monitor.	Baseline and after completed each intervention (3 months)
Changes in blood pressure after each intervention with tomato paste and the control intervention.	Diastolic and systolic blood pressure will be measured by a blood pressure monitor in triplicate.	Baseline and after completed each intervention (3 months)
Changes in heart rate after each intervention with tomato paste and the control intervention.	Heart rate (bpm) will be measured with an automatic monitor in triplicate.	Baseline and after completed each intervention (3 months)
Changes in lipidic profile after each intervention with tomato paste and the control intervention.	Total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides (mg/dL) will be measured by molecular absorption spectrometry.	Baseline and after completed each intervention (3 months)
Changes in liver function after each intervention with tomato paste and the control intervention.	Alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and albumin will be assayed by immunoenzymatic methods.	Baseline and after completed each intervention (3 months)
Changes in glucose after each intervention with tomato paste and the control intervention.	Glucose (mg/dL) will be measured by molecular absorption spectrometry.	Baseline and after completed each intervention (3 months)
Changes in pro- and anti-inflammatory biomarkers after each intervention with tomato paste and the control intervention.	Cytokines (pg/mL), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) (pg/mL) and C-reactive protein (CRP) (mg/dL) will be assayed by immunoenzymatic methods.	Baseline and after completed each intervention (3 months)
Changes in nutrients and energy intake after each intervention with tomato paste and the control intervention.	A 7-day food recall will be used. The data will be analyzed using a software called Programa de Càlcul Nutricional Professional (PCN Pro).	Baseline and after completed each intervention (3 months)
Changes in quality of the diet after each intervention with tomato paste and the control intervention.	Participants will fill the validated questionnaire measuring adherence to the Mediterranean diet.	Baseline
Changes in physical activity after each intervention with tomato paste and the control intervention.	Physical activity will be assessed with the ActiGraph® wGT3X-BT accelerometer.	Baseline and after completed each intervention (3 months)
Changes in sleep quality after each intervention with tomato paste and the control intervention.	Sleep quality will be assessed with the ActiGraph® wGT3X-BT accelerometer.	Baseline and after completed each intervention (3 months)
Changes in quality of life after each intervention with tomato paste and the control intervention.	Quality of life will be assessed with the WHOQOL-BREF.	Baseline and after completed each intervention (3 months)
Sensory threshold and organoleptic analysis	The recognition threshold of the five basic tastes will be determined through a classical sensory analysis test, employing a battery of solutions containing the molecules of interest. This test will include an organoleptic analysis of tomato paste to evaluate its aroma, taste (including acidity, sweetness, saltiness, umami), and hedonic sensation.	Baseline

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Barcelona
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Rosa M Lamuela Raventós, PhD, University of Barcelona

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): October 25, 2023
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 4, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): December 4, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 17, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 26, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): June 7, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): June 25, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 19, 2025
• Last Verified: February 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Inflammation Mediators; Clinical trial; Polyphenols; Tomato; Preventive Medicine; Carotenoid
• Other Study ID Numbers: PID2020-114022RB-I00

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No