Pomegranate Shows Promise for Cardio Care
Lee Swanson Research Update
New research from Israel suggests pomegranate juice may help protect cardiovascular health by improving blood pressure and lipid levels. In a study involving 101 hemodialysis (HD) patients, subjects were given either 100 cc of pomegranate juice or a matching placebo juice three times per week for one year. Subjects were assessed for traditional cardiovascular risk factors including systolic and diastolic blood pressure, pulse pressure and plasma levels of triglycerides, HDL, LDL and total cholesterol throughout the study year.
Compared with the placebo group, subjects receiving pomegranate juice had significant improvement in systolic blood pressure, pulse pressure, triglycerides and HDL. These effects were more pronounced among subjects with high blood pressure, high triglycerides and low HDL at baseline. The study authors concluded that “these favorable changes may reduce the accelerated atherosclerosis and high incidence of CVD among HD patients.”
Shema-Didi L, Kristal B, et al. Does Pomegranate intake attenuate cardiovascular risk factors in hemodialysis patients? Nutrition Journal 2014, 13:18 doi: 10.1186/1475-2891-13-18