• The Effect of Pomegranate Extract Supplementation on Vascular Function and Inflammatory Markers : A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
  • Hamed Kord-Varkaneh,1,* Reyhaneh Rasekhmagham,2
    1. Student Research Committee, Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Nutrition and Food Technology, ShahidBeheshti University of Medical Sciences,Tehran, Iran
    2. Department of Nutrition,Faculty of Medical Sciences, Science and research Branch,Islamic Azad University


  • Introduction: Cardiovascular disease causes inflammation by producing active oxygen species. Pomegranate fruit is a rich source of anti-inflammatory phytochemicals that does this by inhibiting cyclooxygenase, NFκB activity and phosphorylation of MAPKs proteins.The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of pomegranate juice and pomegranate juice on vascular function and inflammatory factors
  • Methods: The literature search was performed in three databases including PubMed/Medline and SCOPUS to identify clinical trials that examined the effect of pomegranate juice and pomegranate juice on vascular function and inflammatory factors up to May 2019. Mean change and standard deviation (SD) of the outcome measures were used to estimate the mean difference between the intervention group and the control group at follow-up. Eleven studies including reported CRP,hsCRP,TNFα,IL6,MDA,E-Selection,ICAMs and VCAMs as an outcome measure.
  • Results: Results revealed significant reduction in hsCRP (Weighted Mean Differences (WMD): -6.57 mg/l, 95% CI: -10.04 to -3.10, p=0.000), TNF-α (WMD: −2.37 pg/ml, 95% CI: -3.67, -1.07, p=.00), IL-6 (WMD: −1.68 pg/ml, 95% CI: −3.52, 0.157, p= 0.000), MDA (WMD: 0.031 μmol/l, 95% CI: −1.56, 0.218, p=0.746), E-Selection and VCAM (WMD: 8.42 ng/ml, 95% CI: −22.9, 39.8, p= 0.005, WMD: -69.32 ng/ml, 95% CI: -229.26,90.61, P=0.001 , Respectively) and did not significantly decrease CRP (WMD: 2.19 mg/dl, 95% CI: −3.28, 7.67, p= 0.61) after pomegranate supplementation with low heterogeneity among the studies.
  • Conclusion: The results of current meta-analysis study support the use of pomegranate supplementation for the improvement of vascular function and inflammatory factors.
  • Keywords: Meta-analysis, Inflammatory Markers, Vascular Function ,Pomegranate.