Improving Bloodflow with Pomegranate from Moss Nutrition

Throughout the developed world, hypertension affects a substantial portion of the population. Nowhere is this more conspicuous than in the United States, where, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a shocking 45% of adults exhibit high blood pressure levels, defined as being at or above 140/90 mmHg.

What is Hypertension?

Hypertension, along with the obesity with which it is often paired, is a major risk factor for and contributor to cardiovascular disease worldwide. Even a 5 mmHg reduction in either systolic or diastolic blood pressure has been suggested to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke by twenty percent.

In many if not most cases, chronically elevated blood pressure is a result of modifiable lifestyle factors. This means it can be addressed, and even reversed, through simple interventions such as improved diet and lifestyle patterns, such as developing a daily walking habit, and quitting smoking. Decreasing stress, increasing exercise, and reducing inflammation are three pillars of a natural approach to supporting healthy blood pressure levels to reduce disease risk.

The Benefits of Pomegranate Juice

Dietary supplements and nutrition protocols that help to optimize the inflammation response have been shown to improve outcomes and quality of life in people with hypertension. To this end, pomegranate juice and extracts have emerged as a compelling subject of research.

Pomegranate contains antioxidant polyphenols (notably tannins, punicalagins, and anthocyanins) which have been shown to help decrease vascular inflammation, protect vascular endothelium, and stimulate vasodilation. Proposed mechanisms of action include reducing serum ACE activity, and promoting of nitric oxide production. Nitric oxide helps to improve blood flow by enabling blood vessels to relax and widen, boosting the transport and delivery of nutrients and oxygen to skeletal muscle. This helps increase energy and endurance, allowing an individual to be more active which in turn can help to promote healthy weight and body composition.

Research on Pomegranate Juice and its Benefits

A randomized, double blind, placebo controlled trial published in the Journal of Nutritional Science examined the effect of pomegranate extract on blood pressure and body composition. Fifty-five normotensive adults with BMI ranging from 18 to 35, none of whom were taking medication for diabetes, kidney, or heart disease, participated in the eight week trial.

Half the subjects took a single capsule of a standardized, European whole pomegranate extract (Pomanox®) once daily with water, following a meal. The control group took an identical-looking placebo. Both groups had anthropometric measurements (waist and hip circumference, body fat percentage, weight), urine biomarkers (total polyphenols, malonaldehyde, antioxidant capacity), and blood pressure recorded at baseline, week four, and week eight for comparison.

At the conclusion of eight weeks, subjects in the Pomanox® group exhibited a significant 2.8 mmHg average drop in diastolic blood pressure. Diastolic blood pressure, the lower or “bottom” number given in a blood pressure reading, represents the force of blood against arterial walls when the heart is at rest. Systolic blood pressure, the force of blood against artery walls during a heartbeat, also declined in subjects taking pomegranate extract, by an average of 2.37 mmHg, a reduction bordering on statistical significance. Subjects taking the placebo exhibited no blood pressure changes at all.

In this study, anthropometric measurements remained stable in both groups, but it is worth noting that no members of either group made any changes to their diet or exercise routines. Prior research has found that when provided with a high fat diet, animals given pomegranate extract gained less weight than controls. A recent, single blind randomized study of 24 healthy volunteers found that compared to controls, subjects taking Pomanox® exhibited decreased body fat, increased lean body mass, and a statistically significant drop in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

REFERENCES

Stockton A, Farhat G, et al. Effect of pomegranate extract on blood pressure and anthropometry in adults: a double-blind placebo-controlled randomised clinical trial. J Nutr Sci. 2017 Aug 9:6:e39.

Vilahur G, Padro T, et al. Polyphenol-enriched diet prevents coronary endothelial dysfunction by activating the Akt/eNOS pathway. Rev Esp Cardiol (Engl Ed). 2015 Mar;68(3):216-25.

Al-Dujaili EAS, Casey C, et al. Antioxidant Properties and Beneficial Cardiovascular Effects of a Natural Extract of Pomegranate in Healthy Volunteers: A Randomized Preliminary Single-Blind Controlled Study. Antioxidants (Basel). 2022 Oct 28;11(11):2124.