Question: Just how reliable are the studies on pomegranate juice?
Just how reliable are the studies on pomegranate juice? Were they funded by the pomegranate industry? The claims I have seen are that it cleanses arteries, and prevents vascular problems. True or just marketing hype?
Dennis - About.com User
Answer: There are studies that show pomegranate juice has anti-oxidants that help to protect blood lipids from oxidation and pomegranate will help to prevent plaque build up in your arteries. This means that adding pomegranate juice to you diet may help to keep your arteries healthy. There are also studies that show pomegranate juice may also help to prevent prostate cancer. More studies have shown that pomegranate seeds appear to enhance immune function as well.
I think these studies are legitimate studies, and can all be found on Pub Med.
These studies show that pomegranates have healthy effects on our bodies, however that doesn't make them some type of miracle cure for cardiovascular disease or other diseases. Pomegranates may have a place along with fish, oatmeal and olive oil as foods that will help to prevent cardiovascular disease along with a healthy lifestyle and weight control.
If you want to add the health benefits of pomegranate to your diet, try drinking pomegranate juice as a beverage or sprinkle some pomegranate seeds on your favorite salad.
Sources:
Yamasaki M, Kitagawa T, Koyanagi N, Chujo H, Maeda H, Kohno-Murase J, Imamura J, Tachibana H, Yamada K. "Dietary effect of pomegranate seed oil on immune function and lipid metabolism in mice." Nutrition. 2005 Oct 10.
Aviram M, Dornfeld L, Kaplan M, Coleman R, Gaitini D, Nitecki S, Hofman A, Rosenblat M, Volkova N, Presser D, Attias J, Hayek T, Fuhrman B. "Pomegranate juice flavonoids inhibit low-density lipoprotein oxidation and cardiovascular diseases: studies in atherosclerotic mice and in humans." Drugs Exp Clin Res. 2002;28(2-3):49-62.
Malik A, Afaq F, Sarfaraz S, Adhami VM, Syed DN, Mukhtar H. "Pomegranate fruit juice for chemoprevention and chemotherapy of prostate cancer." Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2005 Oct 11;102(41):14813-8. Epub 2005 Sep 28.
Rosenblat M, Hayek T, Aviram M. "Anti-oxidative effects of pomegranate juice (PJ) consumption by diabetic patients on serum and on macrophages." Atherosclerosis. 2005 Oct 11.
