The effects of pomegranate supplementation on biomarkers of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction: A meta-analysis and systematic review
Wang P, Zhang Q, Hou H, Liu Z, Wang L, Rasekhmagham R, Kord-Varkaneh H, Santos HO, Yao G · Complementary Therapies in Medicine · 2020 March
DOI 10.1016/j.ctim.2020.102358
Objective
To evaluate the effect of pomegranate juice on biomarkers of inflammation and vascular dysfunction in individuals with cardiovascular disease.
Conclusions
Pomegranate supplementation significantly reduced levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) compared to placebo. However, no significant effects were observed for other biomarkers, including C-reactive protein (CRP), E-selectin, intracellular adhesion molecule (ICAM), vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM), and malondialdehyde (MDA).
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Insights
Pomegranate juice supplementation notably diminishes inflammation and vascular dysfunction markers in adults, offering potential cardiovascular health benefits.
The research used a broad approach, systematically reviewing and performing a meta-analysis of 16 randomised controlled trials including 572 participants, as per the Preferred Items for Reporting of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Relevant articles and references were found via the PubMed/Medline and SCOPUS databases, with screening carried out up until May 2019. The studies explored the impact of pomegranate juice supplements.
The discussion reveals that pomegranate supplementation conspicuously reduced the levels of certain pro-inflammatory and vascular dysfunction markers. However, the research found no significant reduction in some other markers when compared to a placebo. Despite not all markers recording significant reduction, the overall findings strongly suggest pomegranate supplements as a viable tactic for reducing inflammation in adults, potentially offering cardiovascular health advantages.
Related insights
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- Pomegranate and its components could offer considerable potential as dietary supplements or supports in treatment for cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular diseases.
