Researchers at Ohio State University report that a specially formulated tomato-soy beverage appeared to lower several blood proteins linked to chronic inflammation in a short, small trial. In the study, 12 adults with obesity drank two 6-ounce servings daily for four weeks; investigators compared changes with results from a standard tomato juice control.
The trial, published in the journal Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, tested a drink made from tomatoes selectively bred for higher lycopene and fortified with soy isoflavones. The authors say the combination produced significant reductions in three circulating proteins associated with chronic inflammation compared with the control, though the study measured lab markers rather than clinical outcomes.
Tomato-soy beverage: study design
The randomized, short-duration trial was conducted at Ohio State University and reported in Molecular Nutrition & Food Research. Twelve adults with obesity completed the four-week intervention, consuming two 6-ounce servings per day of the specially formulated tomato-soy beverage. Investigators used a standard tomato juice as the comparison product.
Key differences between the test drink and the control included tomatoes bred for high lycopene content and the addition of soy isoflavones, plant-derived compounds that researchers hypothesized could act together to influence inflammation-related pathways.
Key results and measured proteins
Compared with standard tomato juice, the tomato-soy beverage significantly lowered three circulating proteins that are commonly used as markers of chronic inflammation. The published report focuses on these biomarker shifts rather than on clinical endpoints such as disease incidence, symptoms or long-term outcomes.
The reductions in protein markers provide an early signal that concentrated plant bioactives can alter measurable inflammation-related biology over a short period. The authors and outside experts caution, however, that short-term biomarker changes do not automatically translate into lasting health benefits.
Why experts urge caution
Nutrition specialists emphasize the study’s limitations. Registered dietitian Jamie Lee McIntyre, who was not involved in the research, noted that the trial is small and brief and that the tested beverage is a specialized formula “not a beverage consumers can easily recreate at home.”
“This study adds to a growing body of research suggesting that bioactive compounds in foods may help influence inflammation, but it’s important to keep the findings in perspective,” McIntyre said.
Three important caveats stand out: the sample size was just 12 people, the intervention lasted only four weeks, and the study used a lab-formulated drink with concentrated lycopene and added isoflavones — not ordinary grocery-store tomato juice. Together, those factors mean the results are hypothesis-generating rather than definitive.
What this means for your diet now
The study does not justify expecting dramatic benefits from any single food, bottled drink or homemade blend. Lycopene — the red pigment in tomatoes — acts as an antioxidant in laboratory studies, and soy isoflavones are plant compounds that have been investigated for hormone-related and anti-inflammatory effects. But the dose, formulation and combination used in this trial were specific to the researchers’ product.
For most people, the evidence-based approach remains a consistent, varied eating pattern rich in fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts and healthy fats, along with regular physical activity and other healthy behaviors. Consumers should not assume that store-bought tomato juice or a homemade tomato-soy drink will produce the same changes observed in this controlled trial.
If you are considering dietary changes for medical reasons, consult your clinician or a registered dietitian — especially if you have conditions or take medications that could interact with soy compounds or high-dose supplements.
What comes next
The researchers say they hope to build on these findings with larger and longer trials that can test whether the observed reductions in inflammation markers persist and whether they are linked to meaningful health outcomes. Future work should examine different doses, longer durations, and more diverse participant groups, and should test reproducible, consumer-friendly formulations rather than specialized laboratory products.
Larger studies would also help clarify mechanisms: whether the effects stem mainly from lycopene, soy isoflavones, their combination, or other components of the test drink.
FAQ
What happened with tomato-soy beverage?
In a small Ohio State University trial of 12 adults with obesity, participants who drank two 6-ounce servings daily of a specially formulated tomato-soy beverage for four weeks had significant reductions in three blood proteins tied to chronic inflammation compared with standard tomato juice.
Why does tomato-soy beverage matter?
The results matter as an early biological signal that specific combinations of food-derived compounds — concentrated lycopene from tomatoes and added soy isoflavones — might influence inflammation-related biomarkers. The study does not demonstrate long-term health benefits or prove that consumer products would have the same effects.
What happens next?
Researchers plan larger, longer trials to confirm the findings, test reproducible formulations suitable for consumers, and determine whether changes in inflammation markers translate into improved health outcomes.
Source attribution: Coverage of the trial is available from Fox News: Fox News — Study finds special tomato drink may reduce inflammation in adults with obesity. The trial was reported in the journal Molecular Nutrition & Food Research (Molecular Nutrition & Food Research) and was conducted by investigators at Ohio State University (Ohio State University news).
