ate intervention group may have seen even better results than indicated by the mea- sured regression in intima media thickness alone.


That is, if we assume that the


pomegranate group had received no treat- ment, the thickening of their carotid arter- ies would have continued to progress like the control group at a rate of 9% a year, i.e. 18% within 2 years, 27% within 3 years. This could be interpreted to mean that after 3 years of pomegranate treatment, for instance, the thickening of the arteries would have been reduced over 60% be- yond what would have occurred had the natural progression of the disease been allowed to continue unabated.


3 Ways How Pomegranate Heals The Car- diovascular System The researchers identified three likely


mechanisms of action behind pomegran- ate's observed anti-atherosclerotic activity:


Antioxidant properties: Subjects re-


ceiving pomegranate saw significant reduc- tions in oxidative stress, including de- creases in autoantibodies formed against ox-LDL, a form of oxidized low density lipoprotein associated with the pathologi- cal process of atherosclerosis. Decreases in oxidative stress were measurable by an increase in the blood serum enzyme para- oxonase 1 (PON1) of up to 91% after 3 years; PON1 is an enzyme whose height- ened activity is associated with lower oxi- dative stress. All of this is highly relevant to the question of pomegranate's anti- atherosclerotic activity because of some- thing called the lipid peroxidation hypoth-


Plaque Lesion Stabilization: Because


two of the ten patients on PJ (after 3 and 12 months) experienced clinical deteriora- tion, carotid surgery was performed and the lesions were analyzed to determine the difference in their composition to those who did not receive pomegranate. The researchers noticed four distinct positive differences in the composition of the pomegranate-treated lesions:


1. Reduced Cholesterol Content: "The cholesterol content in carotid lesions from the two patients that consumed PJ was lower by 58% and 20%, respec-


esis of atherosclerosis, which assumes that it is the quality of the blood lipids (i.e. whether they are oxidized/damaged or not), and not their quantity alone that de- termine their cardiotoxicity/atherogenicity. Essentially, pomegranate prevents the heart disease promoting effects of oxidative stress.


Blood Pressure Lowering Properties:


The intervention resulted in significant improvement in blood pressure: the pa- tient's systolic blood pressure was reduced 7%, 11% ,10%, 10% and 12% after 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months of pomegranate con- sumption, respectively, compared to values obtained before treatment. Pomegranate's ability to reduce systolic blood pressure indicates it has a healing effect on the endothelium, or the inner lining of the artery which fails to relax fully in heart disease; a condition known as endothelial dysfunction.


tively, in comparison to lesions obtained from CAS patients that did not consume PJ."


2. Reduced Lipid Peroxides: "[T]he lipid peroxides content in lesions obtained from the patients after PJ consumption for 3 or 12 months was significantly re- duced by 61% or 44%, respectively, as compared to lesions from patients that did not consume PJ.


3. Increased Reduced Glutathione Con- tent: "A substantial increase in the lesion reduced glutathione (GSH) content, (GSH is a major cellular antioxidant) by 2.5-fold, was observed after PJ consump- tion for 3 or 12 months.


4. Reduced LDL Oxidation: "LDL oxida- tion by lesions derived from the patients after PJ consumption for 3 or 12 months, was significantly decreased by 43% or 32%, respectively, in comparison to LDL oxidation rates obtained by lesions from CAS patients that did not consume PJ."


Essentially these results reveal that not only does pomegranate reduce the lesion size in the carotid arteries, but "the lesion itself may be considered less atherogenic after PJ consumption, as its cholesterol and oxidized lipid content decreased, and since its ability to oxidize LDL was significantly reduced." This finding is quite revolutionary, as


presently, the dangers of carotid artery stenosis are understood primarily through the lesion size and not by assessing for the


Robinhood Integrative Health Bruce Lantelme, MD


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