A new clinical trial published in Nutrients suggests a daily pomegranate extract may offer a simple dietary approach to managing inflammation and blood pressure as people age. Researchers found that adults aged 55-70 who consumed the extract, sourced from fruit grown in Spain, experienced a reduction in key inflammatory markers and a clinically relevant decrease in systolic blood pressure. The 12-week study underscores the growing interest in food-based interventions to support cardiovascular health and healthy aging.
A daily extract of pomegranate, rich in antioxidants, may lower inflammation and blood pressure in older adults, regardless of their weight, a new clinical trial suggests. The findings highlight the potential for dietary interventions to support cardiovascular health as people age.
The study, published in Nutrients, involved 86 adults between the ages of 55 and 70. Of those, 76 participants completed the 12-week trial, and were divided into two groups. One group received a daily placebo capsule, while the other received a capsule containing pomegranate extract sourced from fruit grown in Alicante and Murcia, Spain. The pomegranate extract contained 30% punicalagin and 50% polyphenols.
Throughout the trial, researchers periodically measured participants’ blood pressure, physical characteristics, and blood samples. They also assessed levels of inflammatory markers in the blood, as well as blood glucose and lipid levels. While participants were initially considered generally healthy and without diagnosed conditions, the study revealed that a significant number had elevated inflammatory markers and systolic blood pressure at the start of the trial.
The group receiving the pomegranate extract experienced a reduction in interleukin-6 (IL-6), a key marker of chronic inflammation linked to aging. They also saw a decrease in the inflammatory cytokine IL-1B, and a reduction in systolic blood pressure of 5.22 millimeters of mercury (mmHg). This blood pressure decrease is considered clinically relevant, and is associated with an approximately 10% reduction in the risk of cardiovascular events.
Compared to the placebo group, participants taking the pomegranate extract also showed a trend toward lower levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), although these changes weren’t statistically significant.
“These results position punicalagin as a very interesting tool within a comprehensive approach to healthy aging,” said Juan José Cervantes, an emergency physician at Reina Sofía Hospital in Murcia, Spain, and a specialist in regenerative, integrative, and anti-aging medicine.
Chronic, low-grade inflammation can persist for months or years without obvious symptoms, but is linked to the decline of many physiological processes and the progressive deterioration of tissues and organs. It also plays a role in the development of serious diseases such as diabetes, heart problems, cancer, autoimmune disorders, and cognitive decline, increasing morbidity in older adults and significantly impacting healthy aging.
The researchers concluded that pomegranate extract, rich in punicalagin, could be a valuable non-pharmacological strategy for promoting healthy aging. However, they noted that further research is needed, with longer durations, to address the limitations of this three-month study, including the overrepresentation of participants with normal weight.
