Anti-oxidative effects of pomegranate juice (PJ) consumption by diabetic patients on serum and on macrophages

Atherosclerosis. 2006 Aug;187(2):363-71. doi: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2005.09.006. Epub 2005 Oct 13.

Abstract

Diabetes is associated with increased oxidative stress and atherosclerosis development. In the present study, we investigated the effects of pomegranate juice (PJ; which contains sugars and potent anti-oxidants) consumption by diabetic patients on blood diabetic parameters, and on oxidative stress in their serum and macrophages. Ten healthy subjects (controls) and 10 non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) patients who consumed PJ (50ml per day for 3 months) participated in the study. In the patients versus controls serum levels of lipid peroxides and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were both increased, by 350% and 51%, respectively, whereas serum SH groups content and paraoxonase 1 (PON1) activity, were both decreased (by 23%). PJ consumption did not affect serum glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride levels, but it resulted in a significant reduction in serum lipid peroxides and TBARS levels by 56% and 28%, whereas serum SH groups and PON1 activity significantly increased by 12% and 24%, respectively. In the patients versus controls monocytes-derived macrophages (HMDM), we observed increased level of cellular peroxides (by 36%), and decreased glutathione content (by 64%). PJ consumption significantly reduced cellular peroxides (by 71%), and increased glutathione levels (by 141%) in the patients' HMDM. The patients' versus control HMDM took up oxidized LDL (Ox-LDL) at enhanced rate (by 37%) and PJ consumption significantly decreased the extent of Ox-LDL cellular uptake (by 39%). We thus conclude that PJ consumption by diabetic patients did not worsen the diabetic parameters, but rather resulted in anti-oxidative effects on serum and macrophages, which could contribute to attenuation of atherosclerosis development in these patients.

Publication types

  • Controlled Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antioxidants / administration & dosage*
  • Antioxidants / adverse effects
  • Atherosclerosis / drug therapy*
  • Atherosclerosis / immunology
  • C-Peptide / blood
  • Carbohydrates / administration & dosage
  • Carbohydrates / adverse effects
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cholesterol, HDL / blood
  • Cholesterol, LDL / blood
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / drug therapy
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / immunology
  • Diabetic Angiopathies / drug therapy*
  • Diabetic Angiopathies / immunology
  • Flavonoids / administration & dosage
  • Flavonoids / adverse effects
  • Humans
  • Lipid Peroxidation / drug effects
  • Lipoproteins, LDL / pharmacokinetics
  • Lythraceae*
  • Macrophages / cytology
  • Macrophages / drug effects*
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Monocytes / cytology
  • Monocytes / drug effects
  • Monocytes / metabolism
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects
  • Phenols / administration & dosage
  • Phenols / adverse effects
  • Plant Extracts / administration & dosage*
  • Plant Extracts / adverse effects
  • Polyphenols
  • Triglycerides / blood

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • C-Peptide
  • Carbohydrates
  • Cholesterol, HDL
  • Cholesterol, LDL
  • Flavonoids
  • Lipoproteins, LDL
  • Phenols
  • Plant Extracts
  • Polyphenols
  • Triglycerides
  • oxidized low density lipoprotein