Consumption of pomegranate juice by patients with carotid artery stenosis decreases carotid intima-media thickness and systolic blood pressure, potentially due to its strong antioxidant properties.
The researchers investigated the effects of consuming pomegranate juice, enriched with potent tannins and anthocyanins, on carotid lesion progression, oxidative stress, and blood pressure in patients suffering from carotid artery stenosis. Over a period of 1-3 years, ten patients were supplemented with pomegranate juice, with blood samples collected before the treatment and during juice consumption. A control group, which did not consume pomegranate juice, was also monitored.
The study revealed significant reduction in carotid intima-media thickness of up to 30% after a year of pomegranate juice consumption as compared to the control group that saw an increase of 9%. Pomegranate juice consumption was also associated with an 83% increase in the patients' serum paraoxonase 1 activity, and a significant reduction in serum LDL basal oxidative state and LDL susceptibility to copper ion-induced oxidation. Antibodies against oxidized LDL in serum levels were decreased by 19%, and total antioxidant status increased by 130%. Moreover, systolic blood pressure reduced by 12% after a year of juice consumption. Most notably, the maximal effects were observed after one year of juice consumption, with no additional significant beneficial impacts observed with further juice consumption over a span of three years.
