Effects of Consumption of Pomegranate Juice on Carotid Intima–Media Thickness in Men and Women at Moderate Risk for Coronary Heart Disease

• Published in: The American journal of cardiology Vol. 104; no. 7; pp. 936 - 942
• Main Authors: Davidson, Michael H., MD, Maki, Kevin C., PhD, Dicklin, Mary R., PhD, Feinstein, Steven B., MD, Witchger, MarySue, RD, Bell, Marjorie, McGuire, Darren K., MD, Provost, Jean-Claude, MD, Liker, Harley, MD, Aviram, Michael, DSc
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.10.2009; Elsevier; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Aged; Antioxidants - pharmacology; Antioxidants - therapeutic use; Beverages; Biological and medical sciences; Cardiology; Cardiology. Vascular system; Cardiovascular; Cardiovascular disease; Carotid Arteries; Carotid Stenosis - drug therapy; Carotid Stenosis - pathology; Comparative studies; Coronary Disease - prevention & control; Coronary heart disease; Coronary vessels; Cross-Over Studies; Dietary Supplements; Double-Blind Method; Female; Flavonoids - pharmacology; Flavonoids - therapeutic use; Follow-Up Studies; Heart; Humans; Lipid Peroxidation - drug effects; Male; Medical sciences; Men; Middle Aged; Phenols - pharmacology; Phenols - therapeutic use; Phytotherapy - methods; Polyphenols; Punicaceae; Reference Values; Severity of Illness Index; Treatment Outcome; Tunica Intima - drug effects; Tunica Intima - pathology; Tunica Media - drug effects; Tunica Media - pathology; Women; Consumption; Human; Media; Cardiovascular disease; Male; Coronary heart disease; Thickness; Carotid; Intima; Female; Circulatory system; Cardiology; Woman
• ISSN: 0002-9149; 1879-1913
• DOI: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2009.05.037

This randomized, double-blind, parallel trial assessed the influence of pomegranate juice consumption on anterior and posterior carotid intima–media thickness (CIMT) progression rates in subjects at moderate risk for coronary heart disease. Subjects were men (45 to 74 years old) and women (55 to 74 years old) with ≥1 major coronary heart disease risk factor and baseline posterior wall CIMT 0.7 to 2.0 mm, without significant stenosis. Participants consumed 240 ml/day of pomegranate juice (n = 146) or a control beverage (n = 143) for up to 18 months. No significant difference in overall CIMT progression rate was observed between pomegranate juice and control treatments. In exploratory analyses, in subjects in the most adverse tertiles for baseline serum lipid peroxides, triglycerides (TGs), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, TGs/HDL cholesterol, total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol, and apolipoprotein-B100, those in the pomegranate juice group had significantly less anterior wall and/or composite CIMT progression versus control subjects. In conclusion, these results suggest that in subjects at moderate coronary heart disease risk, pomegranate juice consumption had no significant effect on overall CIMT progression rate but may have slowed CIMT progression in subjects with increased oxidative stress and disturbances in the TG-rich lipoprotein/HDL axis.