Pomegranate for heart health: 5 ways its antioxidants may help protect against clogged arteries

In a three year clinical trial published in Clinical Nutrition, patients with carotid artery stenosis who drank pomegranate juice daily saw a reduction in artery wall thickness. The control group got worse over the same period. It was a small study but the results were notable.

Oxidised LDL cholesterol is what actually sticks to artery walls and triggers plaque formation. Pomegranate polyphenols directly inhibit LDL cholesterol oxidation, according to a meta-analysis published in PMC (National Library of Medicine), covering 17 randomised controlled trials with 663 participants. This is one of the more well-supported benefits in the research so far.

High blood pressure is one of the biggest contributors to arterial damage over time. A meta-analysis of 14 clinical trials published in Phytotherapy Research on PubMed found that pomegranate juice reduced systolic blood pressure by an average of 5 mmHg across 573 participants. A consistent, meaningful signal across multiple studies.

Nitric oxide keeps arteries flexible and blood flowing smoothly. Oxidised LDL suppresses the enzyme that produces it. A study in PubMed found pomegranate juice reversed this suppression in human coronary endothelial cells, restoring nitric oxide activity and potentially reducing one of the core triggers of atherosclerosis.

The peel, not just the juice, contains some of pomegranate's most potent compounds. A study published in Frontiers in Pharmacology found that pomegranate peel extract decreased plaque necrosis and slowed advanced atherosclerosis progression in animal models, pointing to potential uses well beyond what the fruit alone can offer.
(Disclaimer: This story is for educational purposes alone and should not be considered as professional medical advice and does not substitute any medical advice.)