title: Pomegranate extract alleviates disease activity and some blood biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress in Rheumatoid Arthritis patients.
abstract: Since the main characteristics of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) are joint dysfunction caused by inflammation and serious pain, anti-inflammatory agents may alleviate the clinical symptoms in RA. Pomegranate juice is rich in polyphenolic compounds that possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. This study aimed to determine the beneficial effects of pomegranate extract (POMx) in RA patients.
  
  
  
  A total of 55 RA patients were enrolled and randomly allocated to an intervention group (n=30) or a control group (n=25). The intervention group received 2 capsules of 250 mg POMx and the control group 2 capsules of 250 mg cellulose per day for 8 weeks. At the beginning of the study and after 8 weeks, Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) and Disease Activity Score (DAS) 28 were completed and serum concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP), matrix metalloproteinases 3 (MMP3), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were analyzed using standard methods and compared between the two groups.
  
  
  
  Compared with the placebo group, POMx supplement significantly reduced the score of DAS28 (P<0.001) which could be related to the decrease in swollen (P<0.001) and tender joints (P=0.001) count, pain intensity (P=0.003) and ESR levels (P= 0.03). POMx consumption also decreased HAQ score (P=0.007) and morning stiffness (P=0.04) and increased GPx concentrations (P<0.001). There were no differences in the change in mean MMP3, CRP and MDA levels between two groups.
  
  
  
  POMx alleviates disease activity and improves some blood biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress in RA patients.
authors: Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Science, Shiraz, Iran.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Ghavipour
authors: Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Sotoudeh
authors: Department of Clinical Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Science, Shiraz, Iran.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Tavakoli
authors: Department of Rheumatology, Ahwaz University of Medical Science, Ahwaz, Iran.
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Mowla
authors: Department of Epidemiology, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Science, Shiraz, Iran.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Hasanzadeh
authors: Department of Clinical Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Science, Shiraz, Iran.
authors: Z
authors: Z
authors: Mazloom
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001799:Blood Sedimentation / Q000187:drug effects; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D029561:Lythraceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3 / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D015415:Biomarkers; D010936:Plant Extracts; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; C511768:MMP3 protein, human; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3