Other Antioxidant Benefits
In addition to being the superior free radical scavenger, POM Wonderful’s unique antioxidants have been shown to have other protective effects against oxidative stress.
Pomegranate juice has a superior ability to prevent LDL cholesterol from being oxidized by free radicals. Emerging science suggests that LDL oxidation may be a precursor to atherosclerosis or arterial plaque.
Source: N. Seeram, et al., Comparison of Antioxidant Potency of Commonly Consumed Polyphenol-Rich Beverages in the United States, Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry (2008).
Protecting Nitric Oxide
A 2006 study published by Louis J. Ignarro, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Medicine, documented that pomegranate juice is uniquely potent in inhibiting the destruction of nitric oxide.Dr. Ignarro received his Nobel Prize discovering that nitric oxide is a critical signaling molecule in the cardiovascular system and plays a central role in blood pressure regulation and proper arterial function. Because oxidative stress leads to the rapid inactivation of nitric oxide, powerful antioxidants such as pomegranate juice can protect against its premature destruction.
In this study, which measured antioxidant protection against nitric oxide destruction, POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice was shown to be over one hundred times more potent than blueberry juice, concord grape juice and red wine.
"Less is more" - the less product required to protect nitric oxide, the more powerful its antioxidant power, as illustrated below:
*Number of microliters of each product added to 5 milliliters of nitric oxide solution; concentration of Nitric oxide was measured over a ten minute period.
Source: LJ Ignarro et. al., Pomegranate juice protects nitric oxide against oxidative destruction and enhances the biological actions of nitric oxide, Nitric oxide,15 (2006);93–12.
Links to Other Published Studies on POM Antioxidants
Composition of pomegranate polyphenols (JD, Reed)Pomegranate juice is rich in potent polyphenols antioxidants (MI, Gil)
Specific POMx components are potent antioxidants and bioactive (MK, Reddy)
What is inflammation?
Inflammation: From the Latin, inflamare, to set on fire, is the complex biological response of the body to injury[1]. It is a protective attempt by the body to remove the stimuli as well as initiate the healing process. Cornelius Celsus, one of the greatest Roman medical writers, described the four classical signs of inflammation over two thousand years ago – calor, dolor, rubor, and tumor (heat, pain, redness, and swelling)[2]. These signs are still the standard today. Inflammation is critical for our survival. For example, in response to a wound, the inflammatory, or defensive phase, begins immediately after the injury. The wound is attacked by a variety of inflammatory cells that destroy any bacteria present and work to clear the area of debris. During this phase, the affected area’s redness is a signal that the body is fighting back. After the initial combat, the inflammatory cells work to facilitate tissue repair[3]. In the absence of inflammation, wounds would never heal, and progressive destruction of the tissue would compromise our survival. Clearly, this inflammation, occurring on the body’s surface, can be a good thing. However, internal inflammation that runs unchecked can also lead to a host of diseases, such as hay fever, atherosclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis.Inflammation and Oxidative Stress
Oxidative stress is defined as a significant imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant defenses. ROS, which can lead to significant damage to cell structures, can be increased dramatically by a variety of different stimuli to the body such as disease, environmental toxins or UV light. When ROS overwhelm the body’s antioxidant capacity, a number of inflammatory signals are activated, causing increased levels of inflammation[4]. As a result, plants and animals maintain complex systems of multiple types of antioxidants to counter ROS and properly regulate inflammation.Oxidative stress and inflammation have been implicated in many heart, lung, blood, and sleep (HLBS) disorders, including atherosclerosis, hypertension, asthma, COPD, acute lung injury, heart failure and sleep apnea[5]. For example, Adams, et al showed that an inflammatory state is conducive to increased cancer cell proliferation and decreased rates of apoptosis (cancer cell suicide)[6]. The common risk factors for atherosclerosis (for example, smoking, diabetes and high cholesterol) increase levels of oxidative stress, initiating processes involved in atherogenesis,[7] the forming of arterial plaques.
Pomegranates and Inflammation
Basic and applied research indicates that pomegranate juice produced from the “Wonderful” variety of pomegranate, has strong antioxidant activity[8], and may help decrease inflammation.Pomegranates have shown activity against the cytokine NF-κB and the MAP kinases JNK and ERK, which are critical steps in the cascade of events leading to inflammation[9]. This is very important because these inflammatory signals have been implicated in many different disease states. POM Wonderful continues to support research to further explore the role of pomegranates in fighting inflammation.
