Pomegranate compound shows promise against heart failure: Study finds urolithin A improved heart function by up to 80% in experimental models

A compound produced by the body after consuming foods such as pomegranates, walnuts and some berries could offer a new avenue for treating heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), a form of heart failure that currently has limited treatment options.

Researchers at King's College London found that urolithin A improved measures of heart function by up to 80% in experimental models. The compound also helped the heart muscle relax, reduced scarring and limited harmful enlargement of heart cells.

However, researchers stressed that the findings are still at an early stage and do not mean that eating pomegranates can treat heart failure.


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What is heart failure with preserved ejection fraction?

HFpEF occurs when the heart can still pump blood normally but becomes stiff, making it harder for the heart muscle to relax and fill properly between beats.

The condition accounts for around half of all heart failure cases in the UK and can cause symptoms including breathlessness, tiredness, reduced ability to exercise and a lower quality of life.

The condition is becoming increasingly common, particularly as populations age and rates of obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes rise.

Dr Joseph Burgoyne, senior author of the study at King's College London, said the condition remains difficult to treat because it is complex and can vary considerably between patients.

“This type of heart failure is becoming increasingly common as populations age and rates of obesity and diabetes rise. Despite its growing burden, treatment options remain limited because the disease is complex and varies considerably between patients,” Burgoyne said.

Urolithin A improves heart function in study

Urolithin A has attracted scientific interest because of its links to healthy ageing and mitochondrial function, the process through which cells generate energy.

In what the researchers described as a research first, the team found that urolithin A activates a protein called PKG1a, which plays a role in blood vessel function and the relaxation of heart muscle.

The compound targets a specific amino acid on the protein, triggering a pathway associated with cardiovascular benefits.

Compound reduced heart scarring and enlargement

The researchers tested urolithin A in animal models of HFpEF and found improvements in measures of heart function of up to 80% compared with untreated models.

Laboratory experiments showed that the compound increased the ability of heart tissue to relax and reduced fibrosis, or harmful scarring of the heart tissue.

Urolithin A also reduced enlargement of heart muscle cells, another change associated with the progression of heart disease.

Researchers tested urolithin A on human heart tissue

The team also investigated the compound using engineered human heart tissue made from human stem cells.

The laboratory model was designed to closely replicate aspects of the structure and function of human heart muscle. Researchers found that urolithin A significantly improved tissue relaxation.

The result provides an additional indication that the biological pathway identified in the study could be relevant to human heart function, although clinical studies are still needed.

Can eating pomegranates treat heart failure?

Not yet. The researchers have specifically cautioned against interpreting the findings as evidence that pomegranates or other foods can treat HFpEF.

Although urolithin A can be produced in the body after consuming certain foods, the amount produced can vary between individuals.

Burgoyne said there is currently not enough evidence to suggest that people should eat pomegranates to treat heart failure. He added that the findings raise the possibility that dietary approaches capable of increasing urolithin A production could eventually have a role in managing the condition.

Urolithin A has already been studied in humans

One factor that makes the findings particularly interesting is that urolithin A has already been evaluated in human studies and has shown a favourable safety profile.

However, previous human safety data do not establish that the compound is an effective treatment for HFpEF. Further research will be required to determine whether the benefits observed in experimental models can be reproduced in patients.

The current study therefore points towards both a potential new therapeutic target and a naturally derived compound that could be investigated further.

British Heart Foundation calls findings promising

The study was funded by the British Heart Foundation (BHF).

Professor James Leiper, Director of Research at the British Heart Foundation, said HFpEF can be debilitating and accounts for roughly half of all heart failure cases in the UK.

“This early-stage study in experimental models suggests that urolithin A may help to improve the heart tissue's ability to relax and fill with blood between beats, reducing the harmful changes to the heart muscle seen in HFpEF,” Leiper said.

However, he stressed that the results have so far been observed in animals and engineered human tissue.

“While these findings are promising, the benefits have so far been seen in animals and engineered human tissue, so clinical trials involving people are needed to test if this approach is effective for patients,” Leiper said.

No single food can prevent or treat heart disease

Leiper also emphasised the importance of maintaining a healthy diet while research into new treatments continues.

A balanced diet containing plenty of fruit and vegetables is associated with better heart health, he said, but no single food can prevent or treat heart disease on its own.

The findings therefore represent an early step towards understanding whether urolithin A could eventually be developed into a treatment for HFpEF rather than evidence that pomegranates themselves can treat the condition.

The study is due to be published in Science Advances.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.