An increase in abdominal adiposity is linked with the development of a low-grade systemic inflammatory response, characterised by altered adipokine secretion and increased plasma oxidative stress. This in turn, is thought to have a role in the increased risk of T2DM and CVD associated with obesity and interventions are therefore sought which are able to modulate plasma adipokine concentrations, re-establishing a healthy balance.
It was hypothesised that consumption of a pomegranate extract (PE) for 28 d by a healthy, overweight/obese (BMI=29.2 sd 3.1; Age=37.1 sd 10.2) population would alter circulating adipokines and plasma total antioxidant status. A randomised, placebo-controlled, single-blind crossover design was used, with a 14 d washout period. Measurements were taken at baseline and 28 d for each intervention, within 24 hours of the last capsule being taken. No significant changes in energy or macronutrient intake (Fig. A & B), assessed using a 3 d diet diary, BMI, waist circumference or waist:hip ratio were noted for either treatment group. Consumption of PE for 28 d did not significantly increase plasma antioxidant levels as measured by the ferric reducing antioxidant capacity (FRAP)()Reference Benzie and Strain 1 ) or oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC)( Reference Girard-Lalancette, Pichette and Legault 2 ), nor did it affect oxidative stress as measured by plasma thiobarbituric reactive substances assay (TBARS)( Reference Buege and Aust 3 ). TNFα, IL-6, adiponectin and leptin (RnD Systems, UK) did not significantly change for either treatment.
In conclusion, intake of a PE for 28 d did not result in a cumulative increase in plasma total antioxidant capacity or affect plasma oxidative stress. Nor was there any effect on plasma adipokines. These results suggest that consumption of a PE over a 28 d period has no effect on the secretory pattern of adipose tissue in obesity. However it may possibly have some action beyond this time period or at the subcellular level.
This work was supported by POM Wonderful, LLC, USA.