Effect of pomegranate seed oil on hyperlipidaemic subjects: a double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial

Abstract

In vitro and in vivo studies have shown that punicic acid, a type of conjugated fatty acid and the main constituent of pomegranate seed oil (PSO), has anti-atherogenic effects. The present study aimed at determining the effect of PSO treatment on serum lipid profiles. This double-blind placebo-controlled randomised clinical trial included fifty-one hyperlipidaemic subjects, diagnosed according to National Cholesterol Education Program definition, and randomly assigned to the PSO and the control groups. The PSO and placebo groups received 400 mg PSO and placebo twice daily, respectively and were followed up for 4 weeks. Serum concentrations of lipids and lipoproteins were measured before and 4 weeks after intervention. Mean concentration of TAG and the TAG:HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio were significantly decreased after 4 weeks in the PSO group as compared with baseline values (2·75 (SD 1·40) v. 3·45 (SD 1·56) mmol/l, P¼ 0·009 and 5·7 (SD 4·6) v. 7·5 (SD 5·0), P¼ 0·031, respectively). The treatment effect was statistically significant in the PSO group as compared with controls in diminution of cholesterol:HDL-C ratio (5·4 (SD 1·5) v. 5·9 (SD 1·4), P, 0·05) adjusted for baseline values. We found a mean difference for PSO v. placebo in HDL-C concentration (0·13 v. 20·02 mmol/l) and cholesterol:HDL-C ratio (20·42 v. 0·01, P,0·05). Serum cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and glucose concentrations and body composition variables remained unchanged. It is concluded that administration of PSO for 4 weeks in hyperlipidaemic subjects had favourable effects on lipid profiles including TAG and TAG:HDL-C ratio. Pomegranate seed oil: Hyperlipidaemia: Randomised clinical trialsNormalisation of dyslipidaemia, a modifiable risk factor, can prevent or reduce the risk of CVD, which is a leading cause of death worldwide (1,2) .In order to treat dyslipidaemia, different pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic approaches have been used. Statins are the first-line therapy for management of increased LDL cholesterol (LDL-C), despite adverse effects such as gastrointestinal symptoms and muscle aches (3) . Although fibrates may decrease serum TAG and increase serum HDL cholesterol (HDL-C), more powerful drugs for normalisation of these lipids need to be investigated.Conjugated fatty acids are well-known hypolipidaemic agents (4,5) documented for their effect on lipid metabolism (6) . PSO (Punica granatum) consists of about 80 % conjugated octadecatrienoic fatty acids, with a high content of 9-cis, 11-trans, 13-cis acid or punicic acid (PA), one of the isomers of conjugated linolenic acid (CLN) (7) ; animal studies report controversial results for the hypolipidaemic role of PSO (8,9) .Although Arao et al. (8) showed that PSO supplementation in obese hyperlipidaemic Otsuka-Long-Evans-Tokushima fatty rats reduces TAG accumulation, Yang et al. (9) demonstrated that PSO does not alter serum cholesterol concentration.Considering the lack of data on the effect of PSO on lipid profiles in human subjects, the present study investigated the effect of PSO ...

Pomegranate seed oil nanoemulsions with selective antiglioma activity: optimization and evaluation of cytotoxicity, genotoxicity and oxidative effects on mononuclear cells

“…The main constituents of pomegranate seed oil (PSO) are conjugated fatty acids, including oleic, linoleic, palmitic, punic and stearic acids, which have an important role in preventing cardiovascular diseases, by reducing cholesterol levels and promoting an anti-atherogenic effect (Schubert et al 1999;Mirmiran et al 2010). The phenolic and flavonoid contents might contribute to the PSO antioxidant activity, by eliminating free radicals and decreasing oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation, which plays an important role in the prevention and treatment of cancer (Poulsen et al 1998;Schubert et al 1999).…”

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“…Also, the results showed a diminution of cholesterol HDL-C ratio while, the serum cholesterol, LDL cholesterol remained unchanged. Therefore, this study could demonstrate a beneficial effect of lipid profile including TAG and TAG:HDL-C ratio 52 . This study showed that weight gain was associated with an increase in biomarkers of cholesterol profile, adipose tissue accumulation (P<0·05).…”

“…Antioxidant and antiinflammatory activities are the main features of PSO which results from inhibition of lipid peroxidation and neutrophil-activation 37,39,51 . Effects of PSO on body weight and serum lipid profile are inconsistent and many studies confirmed weight reducing effects but the effects of PSO on reducing in serum triglyceride, phospholipid, cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol levels are contradictory 40,52 . PSO reduces body weight, leptin and insulin levels, enhances glucose tolerance, improves peripheral insulin sensitivity, increases carbohydrate oxidative capacity, and inhibits the progression of type2 diabetes 31,53 .…”

“…Consequently reduction in oxidative stress and apoptosis. 106 Improving in insulin secretion increasing serum insulin and glutathione peroxidase activity 79 Anti-atherogenic Decrease in TAG and the TAG:HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio, 52 Neuroprotective Neutralize ROS or enhance the expression of antioxidant gene, decrease in lactate/pyruvate ratio, extracellular nitric oxide, and lactase dehydrogenase generation Reduction in lipid oxidation and neuronal loss 107 108 Anti-menopausal symptoms Reduction in the number of hot flashes per day, Reduction in sum score of the Menopause Rating Scale II parameters in the treated group after 12 weeks but not significant in comparison to control group 109 …”

Hatice Asli Bedel, Nur Tukel Turgut, Aysegul Ugur Kurtoglu, Coskun Usta

“…They also showed no beneficial correlation between PSO consumption and insulin profiles [44] . Moreover, PSO was demonstrated to have an antioxidant activity and useful effects on lipid profile of dyslipidemic patients [25,45] . Arao et al demonstrated that feeding of obese Otsuka LongEvans Tokushima fatty (OLETF) rats with dietary 1% PSO did not affect abdominal adipose tissue weights or blood lipid levels when compared to the normal diet group.…”