A compound found in tomatoes and available as a dietary supplement could help to protect against sunburn and premature skin ageing.
A study presented at the British Society for Investigative Dermatology found that people who ate five tablespoons of tomato paste every day had 33 per cent greater protection when exposed to ultraviolet light.
This was estimated to equate to wearing a sunscreen with an SPF of 1.3.
The effect is due to a powerful antioxidant called lycopene, which is responsible for the bright red colour of tomatoes.
Professor Lesley Rhodes, a dermatologist at the University of Manchester, said: "These weren't huge amounts of tomato we were feeding the group.
"People should not think that tomatoes in any way can replace sun creams, but they may be a good additive. If you can improve your protection through your diet then over several years, this may have a significant effect."
A compound found in tomatoes and available as a dietary supplement could help to protect against sunburn and premature skin ageing.
