Pomegranate consumption benefits glycemic indices in adults: Study

"Pomegranate consumption significantly reduced fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin, HbA1c, and HOMA-IR," the researchers reported.

Epidemiologic studies have shown an increasing worldwide prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Therefore, it becomes important to improve glycemic indices to prevent or control T2D.

Pomegranates have long been used for their positive medicinal and health value and have been used as traditional medicine for cancer, inflammation, obesity, and, most importantly, glycemic dysregulation. However, the results of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the effects of pomegranate consumption on glycemic indices are inconsistent. Therefore, Hossein Bahari, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran, and colleagues aimed to evaluate the impact of pomegranate consumption on fasting insulin, fasting blood glucose (FBG), Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), and haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) in adults.

According to the team, "this comprehensive methodology will yield more reliable insights into the potential effects of pomegranate on glycemic indices."

For this purpose, the researchers performed a systematic literature search using electronic databases up to May 2023 to identify eligible RCTs evaluating the effect of pomegranate intake on glycemic indices. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) framework was used in the meta-analysis.

Heterogeneity was determined in the included trials using the I2 statistic. Random effects models were evaluated based on the heterogeneity tests, and pooled data were determined as the weighted mean difference.

Of 1999 records, the study included 32 eligible RCTs. The researchers showed that pomegranate consumption significantly reduced FBG (WMD: −2.22 mg/dL), fasting insulin (WMD: −1.06 μU/ml), HbA1c (WMD: −0.22 %), and HOMA-IR (WMD: −0.30).

"Based on our findings, pomegranate consumption improved glycemic variables by reducing all analyzed markers (fasting insulin, FBG, HbA1c, and HOMA-IR)," the researchers wrote.

"Subgroup analyses based on baseline fasting blood glucose showed that patients with prediabetes and diabetes (FBG>100 mg/dl) improved more following pomegranate intake."

Reference:

Bahari, H., Ashtary-Larky, D., Goudarzi, K., Mirmohammadali, S. N., Asbaghi, O., Hosseini kolbadi, K. S., Naderian, M., & Hosseini, A. (2023). The effects of pomegranate consumption on glycemic indices in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Research & Reviews, 18(1), 102940. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsx.2024.102940