Natural pigments found in vegetables and fruits may help prevent bone loss among older people, according to a new study.

Findings published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition demonstrate the power of carotenoids to protect bone mineral density.

Carotenoids are biological antioxidants that provide living things with their color. They have also been shown to protect cells and tissues from free radical damage.

In the new study, researchers at Tufts University examined the relationship between these plant nutrients and skeletal health by studying more than 600 seniors.

For four years, they monitored the subjects’ intake of alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, and lutein plus zeaxanthin.

At the end, they found that one carotenoid in particular, lycopene, was strongly associated with higher bone mass density in the lumbar spines of women and the hips of men.

Tomatoes are known for their high levels of lycopene. It is also available in the form of nutritional supplements.