Effects of pomegranate juice consumption on blood pressure and lipid profile in patients with type 2 diabetes: A single-blind randomized clinical trial

Abstract

Pomegranate juice (PJ) has abundant anti-oxidative polyphenolic compounds which are assumed to have cardioprotective effects such as hypotensive properties. This study aimed to investigate the effects of PJ consumption on blood pressure and lipid profile F variables in patients with type 2 diabetes. Sixty subjects (30 in intervention group and 30 in control group) were recruited in this single-blind placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial. The volunteers were randomly assigned to one of two groups. Treatment group consumed 200 ml/day PJ for 6 weeks, while control group received no intervention. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglyceride (TG) concentrations were measured following 12-14h of fasting at baseline and at the end of the study. After 6 weeks of intervention, SBP (13.5±1.5mmHg vs. 12.3±2.5, P<0.001) and DBP (7.7±1.6 vs. 7.2±1.6mmHg, P<0.05) significantly decreased in the intervention group. Similarly, SBP and DBP in the intervention group were significantly lower than the control group after intervention (P<0.02 and P<0.03, respectively). At the end of the intervention, TC, TG, LDL-C and HDL-C did not significantly differ between the intervention group and the control group however, TC and LDL-C decreased significantly compared to pre-trial values within the intervention group. It is concluded that PJ consumption could decrease systolic and diastolic blood pressure in patients with diabetes while having no effect on lipid profile. A more definitive result will be obtained if future studies could conducted in hyperlipidemic individuals who might be more prone to respond to the lipid-lowering effects.