Pomegranate juice seems to reduce the effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection, especially for patients with hypertension, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer.
Since December 2019, the acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) cases have reached more than 450 million with more than 5 million deaths worldwide. Although right now the cumulative incidence is decreasing, there are still many people who develop a severe illness and end up dying. Thus, any approved natural product that may reduce the complications of SARS-CoV-2 infection should be highly acknowledged. In the last years, several studies have revealed the effectiveness of pomegranate juice or its bioactive compounds against different types of viruses.
In a new very recent paper published in the Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism, Saleem Ali Banihani at Jordan University have reviewed possible beneficial biological effects of pomegranate juice in conditions of viral infection based on the currently published proofs (direct and indirect) and owing to the strong evidence that fresh pomegranate juice is highly rich in bioactive compounds that have been effective in various chronic diseased conditions. Several investigations have confirmed that the activity of an enzyme considered as an entry point for SARS-CoV-2, is reduced by approximately 36% in seven out of ten hypertensive patients after two weeks following pomegranate juice consumption at 50 mL per day. In addition, the cardioprotective effect of pomegranate juice could be valuable for patients with COVID-19 and with a clinical history of cardiovascular diseases. Remarkably, the anticancer properties of pomegranate juice and its derived compounds suggest a possible helpful effect for cancer patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. In summary, given that pomegranate juice is a safe natural product, there is accepted, however, indirect evidence that ingesting fresh pomegranate juice is beneficial in SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Article: Possible Beneficial Effects of Fresh Pomegranate Juice in SARS-CoV-2 Infection Conditions. https://www.hindawi.com/journals/jnme/2022/5134560/
