Does Pomegranate intake attenuate cardiovascular risk factors in hemodialysis patients?
Quality Assurance Department, Western Galilee Hospital- Nahariya, Israel.
Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the most common cause of morbidity and mortality among hemodialysis hemodialysis patients. It has been attributed, among other causes, to hypertension and dyslipidemia. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of a year-long consumption of Pomegranate juice, on two traditional cardiovascular (CV) risk factors: hypertension and lipid profile, as well as on cardiovascular events.
101 hemodialysis patients were randomized to receive 100 cc of Pomegranate juice (0.7 mM polyphenols) or matching placebo juice, three times a week for one year. The primary endpoints were traditional CV risk factors; blood pressure and lipid profile. Systolic, diastolic and pulse pressure, plasma levels of triglycerides (TG), high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL) and total cholesterol were monitored quarterly during the study year. Secondary endpoint was incidence of cardiovascular events.
Pomegranate juice consumption yielded a significant time response improvement in systolic blood pressure, pulse pressure, triglycerides and HDL level; an improvement that was not observed in the placebo intake group. These beneficial outcomes were more pronounced among patients with hypertension, high level of triglycerides and low levels of HDL.
Regular Pomegranate juice consumption by hemodialysis patients reduced systolic blood pressure and improved lipid profile. These favorable changes may reduce the accelerated atherosclerosis and high incidence of CVD among hemodialysis patients.