Pomegranate Juice Lowers Cardiovascular Risk in Dialysis Patients

Hemodialysis patients had significant improvement in their cardiovascular risk (CV) profile after consuming 300 cc of pomegranate juice weekly for a year, according to a new study.

Researchers at the Western Galilee Hospital (WGH; Nahariya, Israel) conducted a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial involving 101 hemodialysis patients randomized on a 2:1 ratio to receive 100 cc of pomegranate juice three times weekly, or a matching placebo. The primary endpoints were change in lipid profile--triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)--and change in blood pressure (systolic, diastolic, and number of medications). Subsequently, 26 patients in the placebo group and 41 in the pomegranate arm completed the 12-month study.

The results showed that triglyceride levels and systolic blood pressure declined significantly from baseline, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) increased significantly; diastolic blood pressure did not change significantly in either group. In addition, consumption of pomegranate juice on a regular basis was associated with a 22.2% reduction in use of antihypertensive medications. In contrast, patients randomized to placebo had no significant changes in any of the parameters. The study was presented at the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) annual meeting, held during November 2011 in Philadelphia (PA, USA).

“Ongoing regular consumption of pomegranate juice may well lead to improved quality of life by reducing the high illness rate among dialysis patients,” said lead author and study presenter Batya Kristal, MD. “In the pomegranate arm, the parameters that improved did so within the first three months of the study, and either remained stable or continued to increase to the end of the trial.”

Pomegranate has a history of association with health benefits dating back to ancient times, ranging from improvement in various gastrointestinal (GI) conditions to ameliorating headaches associated with a hangover. There is evidence of antiviral, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anticarcinogenic potential for pomegranate, as well as improvement in lipid profile, blood pressure, and heart function in patients with diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease. A possible explanation for the benefits is that pomegranate juice contains substantial concentrations of ascorbic and polyphenolic acids, and that pomegranate peel and pulp have large concentrations of antioxidants.

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Western Galilee Hospital