The effects of acute consumption of pomegranate juice (Punica granatum L.) on decrease of blood pressure, inflammation, and improvement of vascular function in patients with hypertension: a clinical trial

Cardiovascular diseases are one of the causes of mortality. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of pomegranate juice consumption on blood pressure, inflammation factors, and vascular function. This before and after clinical trial study was conducted on 13 patients aged 39–67 years with blood pressure above 140/90 mmHg referring Hypertension Clinic of Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Center. All patients consumed fasting 150 mL Pomegranate juice. The level of inflammation factors including E-selectin, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and flow-mediated dilation (FMD) was measured at baseline and 4-6 hours after PJ consumption. The patients consumed 150 ml pomegranate juice. All 13 patients cooperated to the end of study. The short-term consumption of Pomegranate juice decreased significantly systolic and diastolic blood pressure from 125.38±11.80 to 116.15±7.94, and from 82.69±5.25 to 78.08±3.25, respectively (P<0.05). Inflammation factors (VCAM, ICAM, CRP, IL-6, and E-selectin), and FMD didn’t reveal significant changes. Short term consumption of fresh pomegranate juice could have hypotensive properties in patients suffering from high blood pressure. It seems Pomegranate juice could be effective on preventing and treating cardiovascular diseases.