title: Effects of supplementation with pomegranate juice on plasma C-reactive protein concentrations: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pomegranate juice (PJ) has a high content of antioxidants and bioactive polyphenols, being widely used for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and chemopreventive effects.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this meta-analysis consisted in investigating the impact of PJ on plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations.
  
  
  METHODS
  The search included SCOPUS, Medline and two Iranian bibliographic databases namely MagIran and Scientific Information Database (from inception to December 09, 2014) to identify prospective trials for investigating the impact of pomegranate preparations on serum concentrations of CRP. Two independent reviewers extracted data on study characteristics, methods and outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 427 participants in the selected studies, 216 were allocated to PJ groups, and 211 to control group. Meta-analysis of data from 5 eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) arms did not provide compelling evidence as to a significant CRP-lowering effect of supplementation with pomegranate juice (WMD: -0.22 mg/l, 95% CI: -0.45, 0.01, p = 0.061). The impact of pomegranate juice on plasma CRP levels was found to be independent of duration of supplementation (slope: 0.003; 95% CI: -0.005, 0.011; p = 0.444).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, this meta-analysis of data from 5 prospective trials did not indicate a significant effect of PJ on plasma CRP levels, and this effect was independent of duration of supplementation.
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Metabolic Research Centre, Royal Perth Hospital, School of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.
authors.forename: Amirhossein
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sahebkar
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Discipline of Biochemistry, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania. Electronic address: camelia.gurban@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Camelia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gurban
authors.affiliation: Department Automation and Applied Informatics, University Politehnica Timisoara, Romania.
authors.forename: Alexandru
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Serban
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy, Discipline of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania.
authors.forename: Florina
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Andrica
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA; Department of Functional Sciences, Discipline of Pathophysiology, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania.
authors.forename: Maria-Corina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Serban
mesh_terms: D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D000067030:Fruit and Vegetable Juices; D006801:Humans; D029561:Lythraceae; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: Inflammation; Plasma C-reactive protein (CRP); Pomegranate juice; Punica granatum