Research has found that drinking Pomegranate juice can significantly reduce both systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
Pomegrante(Punica granatum L) is one of the oldest consumed edible fruits and is a rich source of polphenols, giving it a high antioxidant capacity and diverse medicinal properties, ranging from possible cancer protection to supporting heart health.
Pomegranate juice has been shown to exert a number of therapeutic benefits that may be beneficial to cardiovascular health including anti-atherogenic, antioxidant, anti-hypertensive, and anti-inflammatory effects.
Let’s take a look at some of the recent research on the evidence-based health benefits of Pomegranate juice for reducing blood pressure.
Pomegranate Juice Reduces Systolic & Diastolic Blood Pressure
Findings arising from animal and human clinical studies have shown pomegranate juice can reduce BP in both short-term and long-term course.
These effects are accompanied by antioxidant and anti-atherosclerotic actions that collectively improve cardiovascular health. The anti-hypertensive effects have been reported for both pomegranate juice and seed oil. Both systolic and diastolic pressures are affected.
Pomegranate juice possesses antioxidant, anti-hypertensive and anti-atherosclerotic properties. [2]
A systematic review and meta-analysis published in 2017 reviewed the available evidence from randomized placebo-controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the effects of pomegranate juice consumption and blood pressure (BP).
A comprehensive literature search in Medline and Scopus was carried out to identify eligible RCTs. A meta-analysis of eligible studies was performed using a random-effects model. Quality assessment, sensitivity analysisand publication bias evaluations were conducted using standard methods.
Quantitative data synthesis from 8 RCTs showed significant reductions in both systolic [weighed mean difference (WMD): -4.96mmHg, 95% CI: -7.67 to -2.25, p<0.001) and diastolic BP (WMD: -2.01mmHg, 95% CI: -3.71 to -0.31, p=0.021) after pomegranate juice consumption.
Effects on SBP remained stable to sensitivity analyses. Pomegranate juice reduced SBP regardless of the duration (>12 wks: WMD=-4.36mmHg, 95% CI: -7.89 to -0.82, p=0.016) and <12 wks: WMD=-5.83 mmHg, 95% CI: -10.05 to -1.61, p=0.007) and dose consumed (>240cc: WMD=-3.62mmHg, 95% CI: -6.62 to -0.63, p=0.018) and <240cc: WMD=-11.01mmHg, 95% CI: -17.38 to -4.65, p=0.001, pomegranate juice per day) whereas doses >240cc provided a borderline significant effect in reducing DBP.
The present meta-analysis suggests consistent benefits of pomegranate juice consumption on BP. This evidence suggests it may be prudent to include this fruit juice in a heart-healthy diet. [3]
References
[1] Pomegranate juice: a heart-healthy fruit juice.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19146506
[2] Pomegranate Consumption and Blood Pressure: A Review.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27748197
[3] Effects of pomegranate juice on blood pressure: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27888156
The information in this article has not been evaluated by the FDA and should not be used to diagnose, cure or treat any disease, implied or otherwise.
Leave a Reply