Pomegranate juice improves cardiometabolic risk factors, biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation in hemodialysis patients: a randomized crossover trial

Abstract

BACKGROUND Pomegranate has antioxidant, cardioprotective and anti‐inflammatory properties. We designed a crossover study aimed at determining if consumption of pomegranate juice (PJ) improves lipid profile and oxidative and inflammatory biomarkers of hemodialysis patients. Forty‐one hemodialysis patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups: PJ‐treated group receiving 100 mL of natural PJ immediately after their dialysis session three times a week and the control group receiving the usual care. After 8 weeks, a 4‐week washout period was established and then the role of the groups was exchanged. Lipid profile, blood pressure and oxidative and inflammatory biomarkers were measured before and after each sequence. RESULTS Based on the results of intention‐to‐treat analysis, triglycerides were decreased in PJ condition and increased in the controls. Conversely, high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol was increased in PJ and decreased in the control group. Total and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol did not significantly change in either condition. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure significantly decreased in PJ condition. Total antioxidant capacity increased in PJ condition (P < 0.001) and decreased in the controls (P < 0.001). Conversely, malondialdehyde and interleukin‐6 decreased in PJ (P < 0.001) and increased in the control group (P ≤ 0.001). The changes of these biomarkers were significantly different between the two conditions. CONCLUSIONS Eight‐week PJ consumption showed beneficial effects on blood pressure, serum triglycerides, high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, oxidative stress and inflammation in hemodialysis patients. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry

Effects of chronic consumption of specific fruit (berries, citrus and cherries) on CVD risk factors: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

“…Forty-five studies were included in this systematic review, of which 18 were crossover randomised controlled trials (RCT) [27,[33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49], and 27 were parallel RCTs [26,28, (see Table 3). The sample size of both experimental and control group in the interventions ranged from 5 to 63.…”

Food Applications and Potential Health Benefits of Pomegranate and its Derivatives

“…The significance of pomegranate health benefits has been revealed by its adaption in several human-based studies ( Table 5). The consumption of pomegranate juice for a period of eight weeks showed beneficial effects on blood pressure, serum triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, oxidative stress and inflammation in hemodialysis patients [85]. In patients with type 2 diabetes, a consumption of 1.5 mL/kg body weight reduced serum erythropoietin level after three hours [86], while a 200 mL/day consumption for six weeks reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure without affecting the lipid profile [87].…”

Perspective of Membrane Technology in Pomegranate Juice Processing: A Review

“…Finally, human studies have shown the beneficial effects of the juice on blood pressure, serum triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, oxidative stress and inflammation in haemodialysis patients [35]. The juice consumption allows also to reduce the serum erythropoietin level [36] as well as systolic and diastolic blood pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes [37].…”