Effects of Concentrated Pomegranate Juice on Subclinical Inflammation and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors for Type 2 Diabetes: A Quasi-Experimental Study.
BACKGROUND
The health benefits of pomegranate juice have been reported in several studies. However, limited clinical trials have examined the effects of concentrated pomegranate juice (CPJ) on inflammatory factors.


OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to investigate the effects of CPJ on metabolic risk factors, including inflammatory biomarkers, in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.


METHODS
In a quasi-experiment trial, 40 type 2 diabetic patients were asked to consume 50 g of CPJ daily for 4 weeks. Anthropometric indices, dietary intake, blood pressure measurements, and fasting blood samples were conducted at baseline and 4 weeks after the intervention.


RESULTS
The intake of CPJ produced a significant increase in both total and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (4.7% and 3.9%, respectively) from baseline (P < 0.05). However, changes that were observed in serum triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), fasting blood glucose, and blood pressure were not statistically significant. Administration of CPJ caused significant reduction in serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) (P < 0.05), but tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) remained unchanged during the study. The mean value of serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC) was substantially increased (~ 75%) from 381.88 ± 114.4 at baseline to 1501 ± 817 after 4 weeks of CPJ consumption.


CONCLUSIONS
Consumption of CPJ (50 g/day) appears to have favorable effects on some markers of subclinical inflammation, and to increase plasma concentrations of antioxidants in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Nutrition and Metabolic Disease Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, IR Iran.
Farideh
F
Shishehbor
Hyperlipidemia Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, IR Iran.
Majid
M
Mohammad Shahi
Department of Food Hygiene, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, IR Iran.
Mehdi
M
Zarei
Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of health, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, IR Iran.
Azadeh
A
Saki
Health Institute, Diabetes Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, IR Iran.
Mehrnoosh
M
Zakerkish
Nutrition Paramedical School, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, IR Iran.
Fatemeh
F
Shirani
Nutrition Department, Arvand International Division, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, IR Iran.
Maryam
M
Zare
Concentrated Pomegranate Juice; HDL-C; IL-6; LDL-C; TAC; TNF-α; hs-CRP; type 2 Diabetes