Israeli research: Pomegranate juice may benefit diabetics

Scientists at Rambam Hospital and the Technion have found that pomegranate juice contains antioxidants that may prevent atherosclerosis - which is the leading cause of death in diabetics.

Dr. Itai Gal Posted: 16.01.06, 14:22

Do you like to drink pomegranate juice? Now it has also been shown to be healthy: a study conducted at Rambam Medical Center and the Technion's Faculty of Medicine finds that while sweetened juices are forbidden for diabetics, consuming pomegranate juice improves antioxidant activity in the body, thus delaying the development of atherosclerosis, the leading cause of morbidity and mortality.

Oxidizing substances are formed as a result of exposure to smoking, pollution, drugs, radiation, high-fat foods or processed foods. They cause the accumulation of free radicals that lead to the development of diseases such as atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease, neurological diseases including Alzheimer's, and also cancers.

Prof. Michael Aviram, chairman of the laboratories department at Rambam Medical Center, who conducted the study, estimates that the benefit of pomegranate juice stems from the special composition of the sugars it contains. Compared to juices that are rich in glucose and significantly increase the levels of oxidation in the body, pomegranate juice contains antioxidants that encourage oxidative activity which is one of the first signs that heralds the development of atherosclerosis.

Patients who participated in the study were given 50 ml of pomegranate juice daily for three months. At the end of the study, it was found that the level of oxidation dropped by about 50 percent. Oxidation levels at a rate of up to 72 percent.

Consumption of pomegranate juice reduced the oxidation indices not only in the blood fluid but also in the blood cells: the study observed a decrease in oxidation of up to 71 percent in the cells

The white blood of the monocyte-macrophage type, which is a central part of the immune system.

"Consumption of pomegranate juice by diabetics improves the antioxidant activity in the body," the researchers said, "so it may prevent the development of atherosclerosis, which is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in diabetics.