A pre-clinical study in an animal model has showcased the potential that pomegranate extract can have in mediating the health issues associated with high fructose consumption.
Pomanox, the proprietary pomegranate extract from botanical ingredients producer Euromed was able to counteract lipid deposition, dyslipidemia and fatty liver.
Therefore, it could work synergistically with pharmacological treatments aimed at controlling obesity, liver steatosis and metabolic syndrome.1
Finding natural aids to reduce liver problems
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and obesity are highly prevalent diseases worldwide, with many still dying from them.
Although dietary sugars are linked to insulin resistance and metabolic syndromes, the underlying effects of continuous fructose intake needs further investigation.
This study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanisms implicated in the pathophysiology associated with fructose intake, as well as the effect of Pomanox as a nutritional strategy to alleviate such metabolic impairments occurring alongside elevated fructose consumption.
It also wanted to determine if punicalagin and ellagic acid, two functional ingredients in dietary pomegranates, could assist in mitigating the harm caused by both liver damage and obesity.
The study
19 Wistar rats were supplemented with either 30% fructose in drinking water or 30% fructose solution plus 0.2% Pomanox for ten weeks.
The results were compared to those from a control group provided with pure drinking water.
Rats supplemented with Pomanox diminished fat deposition... as well as improving markers of liver injury
The results
In this study, fructose promoted more fat deposition, as well as enhancing hepatic fat content and glycoxidative stress. It also caused inflammatory and immunological responses in the fructose arm.
In contrast, those supplemented with Pomanox diminished fat deposition, counteracted the dyslipidaemia caused by chronic fructose intake, as well as improving markers of liver injury.
These results highlight the benefits that supplementation with pomegranate extracts, — such as Pomanox — could have alongside pharmacological therapeutics for those with obesity, fatty liver or metabolic syndromes.
Head of Scientific Communication and Medical Affairs at Euromed, Andrea Zangara, commented: “Fructose consumption has increased in recent decades, despite the efforts of governments and health organisations to alert people to the health risks linked to sustained sugar intake.”
“Metabolic syndrome, obesity, dyslipidemia, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, diabetes mellitus and cardiometabolic diseases are just a few examples of fructose-induced health problems."
"The current study — which received no funding from Euromed — is part of a comprehensive investigation into the efficacy of punicalagin-rich pomegranate extract in mitigating the adverse metabolic effects associated with various ailments, including diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and cardiovascular diseases.”
Reference
1 Sánchez Terrón, Ma Guadalupe & Martínez, Remigio & Morcuende, David & Caballero, Víctor & Estévez, Mario. (2024). Pomegranate Supplementation Alleviates Dyslipidemia and the Onset of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Wistar Rats by Shifting Microbiota and Producing Urolithin-like Microbial Metabolites. Food & Function. 10.1039/D4FO00688G.
