Pomegranate (Punica granatum), a polyphenol-rich fruit, has been suggested to reduce cardiovascular risk due to its antioxidant properties. Hypertension and obesity are the most preventable cardiovascular risk factors. Few studies on blood pressure and/or body-weight status have been conducted in human subjects. Previous investigations have tended to focus on pomegranate juice. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of pomegranate extract (PE) on blood pressure and anthropometric measures in adults with no symptomatic disease. A total of fifty-five participants enrolled in a randomised double-blinded placebo-controlled clinical trial where they were assigned to either PE capsules or placebo capsules for 8 weeks. Blood pressure, body weight, waist circumference, waist:hip ratio (WHR) and body composition (lean body mass, body fat) were measured at baseline, week 4 and week 8. Results showed a significant decrease in diastolic blood pressure after 8 weeks (by 2·79 (sd 5·32) mmHg; P < 0·05), while the decrease in systolic blood pressure did not reach statistical significance (2·57 (sd 7·4) mmHg; P > 0·05). Body fat percentage, lean body mass, waist circumference and WHR did not significantly differ between groups at the end of the intervention. Results suggest that PE may reduce blood pressure and possibly prevent hypertension in the normotensive population. Further large trials are required to elucidate this effect.

Pomegranates are known to possess anti-hypertensive, anti-atherogenic and cardioprotective effects mainly due to their pleiotropic effects on various cellular pathways, especially those triggered by oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of natural standardized pomegranate (PE) extract on cardiovascular risk factors in 24 healthy volunteers who participated in a randomized, single-blind placebo-controlled study. There were 12 subjects in the PE group and 12 in the placebo group. Variables were measured at baseline and after 14 and 28 days of supplementation are anthropometry, BP, pulse wave velocity, fat and lean body mass, salivary and urinary cortisol, and cortisone, total phenolics, antioxidant capacity and lipid peroxidation. Urinary total phenolics excretion and antioxidant capacity were significantly increased after 14 and 28 days of PE intake. At day 28, there were also statistically significant decreases in systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP), pulse wave velocity, body fat and fat mass, as well as an increase in lean body mass. Significant changes in the placebo group were not found. Glucocorticoid levels showed a significant decrease in saliva cortisol at day 28 (morning) in the PE group, and cortisol/cortisone ratio was significantly decreased following 28 days of PE intake at morning, noon, and evening. Urine free cortisol was significantly reduced at day 14. These findings suggest that pomegranate extract intake may improve antioxidant and oxidative stress status and play a beneficial role in the attenuation of some cardiovascular risk factors. Future studies should concentrate on overweight and older people.

There has been an increasing interest in nutraceuticals and functional foods in reducing appetite and to lose weight. We assessed the effect of oral pomegranate extract (PE) and PE juice (PJ) intake vs. placebo on satiety parameters in healthy volunteers. Twenty-eight subjects (mean age 34.5 ± 13.7 years, body mass index [BMI] 25.05 ± 3.91 kg/m2) were randomized to 3-week priming supplementation with PE (Pomanox®) or placebo. On week 3, satiety parameters were determined on 1 testing day after participants ingested a breakfast and a lunch meal with PJ juice, using 100-mm visual acuity scales (VAS) for hunger, desire to eat, fullness and satisfaction. Meal quality and palatability were also tested. The desire to eat was less at all time points in the PJ juice with PE priming group and participants were also less hungry (p = 0.044) than those who consumed placebo. There was an overall significant difference between the groups (p < 0.001). Participants in the PJ juice with PE priming group experienced significantly greater satisfaction (p = 0.036) and feeling of fullness (p = 0.02) than those in the placebo group. These findings suggest that consumption of PE could have the potential to modulate satiety indicators.

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Background and Aim: Pomegranates provide a rich and varied source of antioxidant biophenols. We have shown that pomegranate juice consumption may alleviate cardiovascular risk factors by reducing systolic and diastolic BP and exercise‐induced oxidative stress. This study investigates the effect of pomegranate extract (PE) intake on BP, HOMA‐IR, stress hormone and quality of life in human volunteers. Methods: Healthy volunteers (7 males and 22 females) participated in a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study (BMI: 25.05±3.91kg/m², age: 34.5±13.7years). All subjects consumed either one PE (Pomanox, Pomegreat) or placebo capsule daily, after a meal, for 4 weeks. Each PE capsule weighed 1.083g and contained 650mg of PE (240mg punicalagins and 350mg total biophenols) plus 433mg maltodextrin. Dietary history and habits were recorded. Salivary cortisol and cortisone levels (AM, noon, PM) were assessed by sensitive ELISAs, and fasting blood was obtained at baseline and after 4 weeks to compare BP, glucose, insulin and insulin resistance. Results: Systolic BP was significantly reduced following PE from 120.3 ±13.3 to 115.6 ±13.1mmHg (P= 0.012). There was a reduction in the HOMA‐IR levels from 2.22 ± 2.6 to 1.61 ± 1.9 (P=0.045), and glucose, insulin and uric acid all decreased from baseline. No significant changes were recorded in volunteers taking the placebo. Salivary cortisol levels (AM; p<0.001 and Noon; p=0.016), and cortisol/cortisone ratio (AM from 1.11±0.51 to 0.55±0.26, p<0.001, Noon 1.57±0.85 to 0.75±0.72, p<0.001 and PM; 1.22±0.9 to 0.74±0.59, p=0.011) were all reduced in the PE group. Physical (p=0.018), social functioning (p=0.021), pain (p=0.003), general health (p=0.008) and overall QoL score (p=0.007) were improved in those taking PE. Conclusions: PE ameliorates cardiovascular risk factors, stress levels and improves quality of life. The decrease in insulin resistance could be of benefit to those who suffer from type2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome or obesity.