Sweet potato

Studies in people

• Benefit

  Heart and blood vessel health³

  In people, eating white sweet potato as a meal lowered cholesterol and triglycerides, but more research is needed.

• Benefit

  Vitamin A in the diet⁴

  Orange-fleshed sweet potato has high levels of beta-carotene, which is a good source of vitamin A.

• Open question

  Flour blend taste test⁵

  In taste tests, a mix of sweet potato, cowpea and banana flours was well liked and contained vitamin A.

• Benefit

  Vitamin A deficiency⁶

  Orange-fleshed sweet potato is rich in vitamin A and could help prevent vitamin A deficiency.

• Benefit

  Fatty liver risk⁷

  In men, eating more sweet potato was linked to a lower chance of developing fatty liver.

Animal and lab studies only

• Benefit

  Belly fat and inflammation¹²

  In animal studies, purple sweet potato cut belly fat and inflammation, but we don't know if it works the same in people.

• Benefit

  Bread nutrient content¹³

  In lab studies, bread with sweet potato puree contained beta-carotene, which the body can turn into vitamin A.

• Benefit

  Heart and blood sugar health¹⁴

  Sweet potato compounds are linked to lower risk of diabetes and heart disease, but most studies were in animals or lab dishes.

• Benefit

  Blood sugar and gut health¹⁵

  In diabetic mice, sweet potato fiber lowered blood sugar and improved gut bacteria, but human studies are still needed.

• Benefit

  Iron absorption from food¹⁷

  In animal studies, sweet potato with iron-rich beans and rice raised iron use, but only one bean type differed.

Study type not stated

• Benefit

  Health benefits of a vegetable⁹

  Sweet potato holds natural compounds that studies suggest may help fight cancer, diabetes and inflammation.

• Benefit

  Liver and brain health¹⁰

  Purple-fleshed sweet potato is rich in antioxidants that may help protect the liver and brain.

How it’s made and used

• Baby food nutrition⁸

  A baby food made with sweet potato, rice, faba bean and peanut oil had enough nutrients and was liked by tasters.

• Infant complementary food quality¹¹

  Sweet potato-based infant porridge had about a quarter of the phytate of enriched Weanimix.

• Pasta texture and cooking¹⁶

  Adding sweet potato flour to pasta made it hold more water and come out softer.

• Vitamin A from food¹⁸

  Cooking methods change how much beta-carotene sweet potato keeps, with boiling and pressure cooking preserving the most.

The signal at the top counts the findings in people and in animal and lab studies. A concern in studies of people outranks animal and lab studies, and “No concerns” needs at least one finding in people. When most findings in people point one way, the page leans that way (“Mostly”), and every finding is still shown. Findings whose study type is not stated are shown but not counted. This page is a reference, not medical advice. It describes what regulators and published research say. Talk to a doctor or dietitian about your own diet.