Biophenols-rich Pomegranate extract intake inhibits salivary cortisol and 11βHSD1 activity and improves overall quality of life scores in healthy volunteers
Background and Aim: Biophenols can act as powerful antioxidants. Pomegranate (Punica granatum) provides a rich and varied source of biophenols with the most abundant beingellagitannins, tannins, anthocyanins, ellagic and gallic acids. Recently, we have shown that pomegranate juice consumption may alleviate cardiovascular risk factors by reducing systolic and diastolic blood pressure and exercise-induced oxidative stress. The aim of study was to investigate the effect of pomegranate extract (PomeGreat Pomanox) supplementation on salivary stress hormones and quality of life in human volunteers.
Methods: A randomized placebo controlled double blinded parallel trial was conducted. Participants (n=29; 22 females and 7 males) consented to take part in the study. Age ranged from 19-62years and BMI from 18.6-32.5kg/m². Each volunteer consumed either one pomegranate extract or placebo capsule of identical appearance with water after meal daily for 4 weeks. Pomegranate extract capsule (1.083g) contains 650mg pomanox (350mg biophenols). Dietary history, habits and the health related Quality of Life Questionnaire (Rand 36) were also recorded pre- and post-intervention. Salivary cortisol and cortisone levels (morning, noon and evening) were also assessed by sensitive ELISA methods.
Results: Pomegranate extract intake caused a significant drop of salivary cortisol levels (AM; 39.5±19.6%, p<0.001 and noon; 43.1±32.3%, p=0.016). Salivary cortisol/cortisone ratio was also significantly reduced (AM from 1.11±0.51 to 0.55±0.26, p<0.001, noon 1.57±0.85 to 0.75±0.72, p<0.001 and PM; 1.22±0.9 to 0.74±0.59, p=0.011). Physical (p=0.018) and social functioning (p=0.021), pain (p=0.003), general health (p=0.008) and overall Quality of Life score (p=0.007) were significantly improved in those taking the pomegranate extract capsules.There was a slight increase in salivary cortisol and cortisol/cortisone ratio in those taking the placebo.
Conclusions: These results suggest that pomegranate extract intake rich in biophenols reduces salivary cortisol levels and 11βHSD1 activity, andimproves health related quality of life scores. Pomanox might prove to be beneficial for people suffering from chronic stress.
Background and Aim: Antioxidants have been postulated to exert beneficial effects on cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases by neutralizing reactive oxygen species (ROS). Exercise and metabolic processes are known to produce ROS. Pomegranates are rich in polyphenolic antioxidants. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of pomegranate pure juice consumption on blood pressure, lipid peroxidation and urinary glucocorticoid levels before and after a moderate exercise bout.
Methods: A randomized placebo controlled 2-arm study was conducted. Participants (2 groups of 10 each) attended two 30 minute treadmill exercise sessions (50% Wmax); pre and one week post pomegranate juice (500mL/day containing 1685 mg total phenolics/L) or water consumption. 24h urine samples were collected and blood pressure monitored before and after each session. Urinary lipid peroxidation levels (TBARS), free cortisol and cortisone levels were determined in all urine samples using in house ELISA methods.
Urinary free cortisol was reduced from 39.1 ±26.6 to 26.4 ±16.5 nmole/24h (p=0.064), however there was a statistically significant increase in urinary free cortisone (28.1 ±20.4 to 51.9 ±45.1 nmole/24h, p=0.045), and decrease in free cortisol/cortisone ratio (1.81 ±1.24 to 0.82 ±0.56, p=0.009) following one week of pomegranate juice intake.
The health related Quality of Life Questionnaire (Rand 36) was administered pre- and post-intervention (Appendix 6). The questionnaire covers a wide range of health functions. The physical health component considers physical functioning, physical role, bodily pain and general health. The mental health aspect examines vitality, social functioning, emotional role and mental health (Anderson et al 1996). To be eligible for inclusion in the Cochrane Collaboration’s stringent reviews on dietary supplements, trials had to report a quality of life or mortality / morbidity outcome (Jull et al. 2008).
The pomegranate extract and juice pilot study was a double blinded, randomised controlled parallel trial which comprised two study arms. One consumed pomegranate extracts capsules (PE) and the other placebo capsules (PL). It investigated the effects of pomegranate extract on body weight and composition; health related Quality of Life, and physiological and biochemical markers (Error! Reference source not found.