short-and long term effects of pomegranate juice consumption in inflammatory factors( hs-CRP; ICAM; VCAM; IL-6; E-Selectin ) and blood pressure and endothelial function evaluation (FMD) in hypertensive patients

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) juice (PJ) contains different types of antioxidants and bioactive polyphenols
and has been reported to promote cardiovascular health through several mechanisms. The present study aimed
to examine the effects of 2-week intake of fresh PJ on blood pressure, flow-mediated dilatation (FMD), serum
lipid profile and concentrations of inflammatory and endothelial function biomarkers. Twenty-one hypertensive
patients (aged 30–67 years) were recruited into the trial and assigned to receive either PJ (150 ml/day in a single
occasion between lunch and dinner; n = 11) or the same amount of water (n = 10) for a period of 2 weeks. Systolic
(SBP) and diastolic (DBP) pressures together with FMD and serum concentrations of lipid profile parameters,
apolipoproteins A and B, intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular endothelial adhesion molecule
1 (VCAM-1), E-selectin, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured
at baseline and at the end of trial. PJ consumption was associated with significant reductions in SBP
(p = 0.002) and DBP (p = 0.038) but not FMD (p>0.05). Serum levels of VCAM-1 (p = 0.008) were significantly
reduced by PJ while those of E-selectin were elevated (p = 0.039). However, no significant effect was observed
from PJ on serum levels of ICAM-1, hs-CRP, lipid profile parameters, apolipoproteins and IL-6 in any of the
study groups (p>0.05). Consumption of PJ for 2 weeks has effective hypotensive effects, and may improve
endothelial function by decreasing serum concentrations of VCAM-1. These findings suggest PJ as a beneficial
cardioprotective supplement for hypertensive subjects