Summary:
Background: Pomegranate juice consumption has been found to reduce LDL
oxidation and concentrated juice to improve cholesterol and low density
lipoprotein levels in type II diabetic patients with hyperlipidemia. We
investigated whether anthocyanin-rich pomegranate juice may benefit the lipid
profiles of healthy subjects and hyperlipidemic, statin-treated patients.
Methods: We studied 27 healthy volunteers and hyperlipidemic patients,
divided in three groups. The first group (group A) included 9 healthy subjects,
the second (group B) and the third (group C) 8 and 10 hyperlipidemic,
atorvastatin and simvastatin treated patients, respectively. At baseline and 40
days after treatment we measured serum total cholesterol, HDL-C, LDL-C,
triglycerides and glucose to assess their lipid profiles.
Results: Compared to baseline, there was an improvement in serum LDL (p =
0.0022), glucose (p = 0.0054) levels and a reduction in total cholesterol/HDL
ratio (p = 0.0272) and LDL/HDL ratio (p= 0.0168) in group A healthy
volunteers. In Group B patients, compared to baseline, there was an
improvement in serum total cholesterol(p = 0.0033), HDL (p = 0. 0321), LDL
(p = 0.0036) and glucose(p = 0.0079) levels and a reduction in total
cholesterol/ HDL (p = 0.0036) and LDL / HDL ratios (p = 0.0102). Similarly in
group C, serum total cholesterol (p = 0.023), HDL (p = 0.0007), LDL (p =
0.0008) levels were improved and the total cholesterol/ HDL (p = 0.0081),
TAG / HDL (p = 0.0091) and LDL / HDL ratios (p = 0.0054) were reduced. A
significant difference in response to treatment was noted only between groups
A and B, with respect to the effect of pomegranate juice on total cholesterol
levels and the total cholesterol/HDL ratio.
Conclusions: Anthocyanin-rich pomegranate juice appears to improve
lipidemic parameters in both healthy volunteers and hyperlipidemic,
statintreated
patients.
Keywords:
Pomegranate juice, Anthocyanins, Hyperlipidemia, LDL, Statins
