Pomegranate juice consumption has potential anti-inflammatory and cardio-protective effects. - GreenMedInfo Summary

BACKGROUND: Pomegranate juice is rich source of polyphenols and thus promising dietary antioxidant with numerous health-promoting effects. This includes beneficial impact on cardiovascular health that could be partly attributed to the polyphenols' effects on lipid metabolism. The aim of this study was to investigate whether 6-week long pomegranate juice consumption could modify lipid peroxidation and phospholipid fatty acid composition of plasma and erythrocytes in subjects with metabolic syndrome. Twenty three women, aged 40-60, were enrolled and randomly assigned into two groups: intervention group- consuming 300 ml of juice per day for 6 weeks- and the control one.

RESULTS: Statistically significant decrease in relative amount of arachidonic acid (p < 0.05) and increase in relative amount of saturated fatty acids (p < 0.05) were observed in intervention group at the end of consumption period. In addition, pomegranate juice significantly increased relative amount of total monounsaturated fatty acids (p < 0.05), and significantly decreased thiobarbituric acid reactive substances levels in erythrocytes (p < 0.05).The status of blood lipids and blood pressure' values were not changed during the study.

CONCLUSION: The obtained results indicate positive impact of pomegranate juice consumption on lipid peroxidation and fatty acid status in metabolic syndrome subjects and suggest potential anti-inflammatory and cardio-protective effects.