Pomegranate Power
The polyphenol-rich pomegranate may reduce inflammation, and lower your risk of chronic disease. This is the conclusion of this new study from the Journal of Inflammation.
This is great and all, but keep your feet on the ground. Don’t run out and buy Pom pills, Pom extracts, and Pom juices just yet.
Yes, pomegranat extracts did inhibit the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in this study. But we are not yet able to make extrapolations to people yet.
First, the researchers didn’t do this study in people. They did them on cell cultures.
Second, they looked at changes that occurred at a gene expression level.
The researchers did point out that a separate study has shown similar results in mice (the in vivo condition). “We […] wish to point out that the in vivo efficacy of the extract used here has already been shown by us in an animal model of inflammatory arthritis indicating that after oral consumption pomegranate metabolites can exert anti-inflammatory effect in vivo.”
Their “in vivo” model was a rodent, and you can read the report here if you like. But, like many initial scientific findings, this one has great potential that needs to be vetted over time.
In the meantime, a safe bet for you and me and my mom is that any red fruit, including pomegranate, will provide anti-inflammatory properties. A safe bet for you and me and my mom is to include red fruit in our diets.
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