Why White Tomatoes are Better
Written by: Wan SofaSyifa
Reviewed by: Fenny Lim, BSc. (Hons) Nutrition, UKM
What is a white tomato? White tomato is a variation of the heirloom tomato from the Solanum Lycopersicum species. White tomatoes are sometimes called great white tomatoes, white beauty tomatoes, crystal tomatoes, or pearl white tomatoes. The benefits of white tomatoes vary, and they are widely used in commercial beauty products as part of topical formulations or as a supplement.
Sources of White Tomato
Heirloom tomatoes, in general, are a sub-group of the Solanum Lycopersicum and are used to classify indeterminate tomato varieties. Indeterminate tomatoes are tomatoes that can produce fruit continuously during the growing season. Believe it or not, white tomatoes can be homegrown with the right seeds [1].Â
Tomatoes are a type of fruit that can come in many different colors – from the common red to the rare purple, black, and white. Multiple research has been done to understand how tomatoes get their respective hues and what this means for their nutritional value.
Researchers agree that tomatoes get their colors from the different carotenoids during ripening. “Normal” red tomatoes typically have a higher concentration of lycopene, a red-colored carotenoid, and beta-carotene, a deep orange-colored carotenoid. Yellow tomatoes, on the other hand, may have less lycopene and more beta-carotene [2].
White tomatoes contain almost no lycopene and beta-carotene to get their creamy, white hues. Instead, they are rich in phytoene and phytofluene. Green Acre, a European manufacturer of the white tomato, Tomesoral, argues that the abundance of these two carotenoids gives it more edge in certain health aspects than “normal” tomatoes [3].
Benefits of White Tomato
Most benefits of white tomatoes are linked to their various forms of antioxidants. Some of these benefits include;
Skin Rejuvenation
Phytoene and phytofluene, the two richest antioxidants in white tomatoes, are known to have anti-aging properties, particularly on your skin. Phytoene and phytofluene are two main carotenoids present in not only tomatoes but also most plants. Studies have shown that these two carotenoids can help our body absorb UV light better to prevent sun-based skin conditions.
Overexposure to UV light can cause inflammation (acne, rashes, sunburn) and hyperpigmentation (dark spots, sun spots, or liver spots). It is also known to dry out your skin and may weaken your dermal structures, causing wrinkles [4].Â
Phytoene and phytofluene may also help with glutathione production [5]. Glutathione has many functions, but the ones that may specifically help with skin rejuvenation are its roles in helping certain enzymes (tyrosinase) function properly and regenerate certain vitamins (vitamin C, vitamin E) [6].Â
Glutathione is also responsible for natural collagen production [7]. Collagen plays a major role in;
- forming the fibroblasts in your dermis
- providing help with new cell growth (via fibroblast formation)
- replacing dead skin cells
- giving your skin its structure, strength, and elasticity
Collagen production decreases as you age, and you can notice the lack of it when you see wrinkling, sagging skin [8].
Glutathione acts as a melanin inhibitor – the less melanin you have, the lighter your skin tone is. The vitamins C and E can also perform the same function alongside other purported benefits. In short, white tomatoes help rejuvenate your skin on a cellular level with these two dominant carotenoids.
Chronic Diseases Prevention
As antioxidants, phytoene and phytofluene in white tomatoes may help prevent several chronic diseases, such as coronary heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes. In a 2011 paper on the nutritional aspects of phytoene and phytofluene [9], researchers agree that what makes these two carotenoids capable of disease prevention not only lies in their own individual composition but the source, white tomatoes or tomatoes as a whole.
Most chronic diseases mentioned above are closely tied to how your organs, tissues, and cells function. Heart disease can occur when your arteries are blocked by cholesterol, or blood flow is restricted due to hypertension. Diabetes happens when your body is no longer able to process insulin properly.
The 2011 study mentions that phytoene and phytofluene mediate chronic disease. Their properties and other nutrients normally come from their sources – primarily tomatoes. White tomatoes have antioxidants that provide essential cellular nutrients. Thickening blood vessels, stimulating enzymes, and stimulating hormone production may help prevent or manage several chronic diseases.
Cancer Prevention
In the battle against cancer, there is yet a definitive answer to what may treat or prevent them from forming. Even so, the combined functions of phytoene and phytofluene, including what it is capable of stimulating, show that they might be able to help with cancer prevention. Skin and prostate cancers are the most prominent types of cancers linked to these two carotenoids.
White tomatoes contain carotenoids that absorb UV light – which has been linked to the formation of skin cancer. One possible way white tomatoes can help prevent prostate cancers is because of phytofluene. A review of these two colorless carotenoids [10] shows that phytofluene may help manage prostate cancer by reducing serum testosterone and oxidative stress.Â
You need to remember that while research shows a link between nutrients in white tomatoes and cancer, cancer research, in general, is still inconclusive. You should consider white tomatoes a nutrient supplement, not a preventive or medicinal treatment.
How White Tomato is Marketed
Generally, since white tomatoes are richer in phytoene and phytofluene, they are mainly marketed in the beauty industry as skincare or beauty supplements. For skincare, white tomatoes can come as creams or serums. There are more variations of white tomatoes for beauty supplements by comparison – mainly because most existing research focuses on oral application.Â
You can generally find white tomato supplements in any of these forms;
- Tablets
- Capsules
- Soft gels
- Effervescent
- Fast melt powders
- Collagen shots
- Teas
- Jellies
The formulation of white tomatoes may vary based on these different forms. Dietary supplement suppliers may add other ingredients to this formulation to give more nutrient variety. Because of this, your daily dosage and intake direction wholly depend on the end product. We advise you to always check your supplement labels and consult a professional with your concerns.
White Tomato vs. “Normal” Tomato
Here’s the million-dollar question; which tomato variation is better – your “normal” red or white tomatoes? This depends on your expectations and what you want to achieve when you want to start on tomato-based supplements. For beauty, we believe that white tomatoes are the better choice.Â
Beauty is often linked to skin health. Many common skin conditions are linked to your exposure to UV light, including, but not limited to, wrinkles, hyperpigmentations, and skin inflammations. Phytoene and phytofluene in white tomatoes work on the cellular level. Not only are they a sub-category of antioxidants, but they also help you produce your own natural antioxidant – glutathione.Â
Plus, according to Tomesoral, phytoene, phytofluene, lutein, and zeaxanthin are also ranked as the highest in bioavailability among carotenoids. High bioavailability means these carotenoids are more compatible with your body and easier to absorb for faster, more effective results.
The effects of TOMESORAL white tomato according to TOMESORAL official site.
“Normal” tomatoes might also contribute to this, but white tomatoes are superior composition-wise because they have a higher concentration of these nutrients.
CellLabs® ASTomato™ - Skin Brightening Supplement
Banking on the amount of research done on phytoene and phytofluene, as well as existing research on other nutrient compositions of a “normal” tomato, our team has developed a product featuring white tomatoes as its main ingredient. CellLabs® ASTomato™ is a seven-in-one (7-in-1) formulation aimed towards giving you natural skin brightening.Â
Our formulation includes beetroot, grapefruit, passion fruit, algae, and more. Each ingredient contains different forms of vitamins and minerals with potent antioxidant properties. A good beauty supplement should have varied formulations that complement each other for the best results.
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