Pomegranate juice: a heart-healthy fruit juice.
Pomegranate juice is a polyphenol-rich fruit juice with high antioxidant capacity. In limited studies in human and murine models, pomegranate juice has been shown to exert significant antiatherogenic, antioxidant, antihypertensive, and anti-inflammatory effects. Pomegranate juice significantly reduced atherosclerotic lesion areas in immune-deficient mice and intima media thickness in cardiac patients on medications. It also decreased lipid peroxidation in patients with type 2 diabetes, and systolic blood pressure and serum angiotensin converting enzyme activity in hypertensive patients. Thus, the potential cardioprotective benefits of pomegranate juice deserve further clinical investigation, and evidence to date suggests it may be prudent to include this fruit juice in a heart-healthy diet.
Basu
Arpita
A
Department of Nutritional Sciences, 301 Human Environmental Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma 74078-6141, USA. arpita.basu@okstate.edu
Penugonda
Kavitha
K
D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D001628:Beverages / Q000032:analysis; D001682:Biological Availability; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000188:drug therapy; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D029561:Lythraceae; D051379:Mice; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / Q000097:blood; D010636:Phenols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D059808:Polyphenols; D051381:Rats
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D005419:Flavonoids; D010636:Phenols; D059808:Polyphenols; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A