Pomegranate pick-me-up
pomegranate juice has higher free radical scavenging activity, and
greater polyphenol content than red wine, cranberry juice and green
tea.
Pomegranate producer, Pom Wonderful, is introducing its brand of pomegranate juice to US health food outlets, with claims that its California Wonderful variety of pomegranate juice has higher free radical scavenging activity, greater protection of LDL-cholesterol from oxidation, and the highest polyphenol content, when compared to red wine, blueberry juice, cranberry juice, green tea, black tea, and orange juice.
The company cited Dr Michael Aviram of The Lipid Research Laboratory and Technion Faculty of Medicine, who reported on his findings at the XI International Biennial Meeting of the Society for Free Radical Research, Paris, France.
"Pomegranate juice (California Wonderful variety) is the most potent antioxidant against LDL oxidation and the most potent free radical scavenger among all studied juices," said Aviram. "The potent anti-oxidative properties of Pomegranate Wonderful juice could explain its impressive anti-atherosclerotic effects as we have recently shown in mice, and most importantly, in humans."
The company, a subsidiary of Roll International, also cited earlier studies by Dr Aviram and colleagues, published in American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Journal of Nutrition, and Atherosclerosis, which apparently all found that Wonderful variety pomegranate juice reduces low density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation and cellular cholesterol accumulation in mice arteries, and may also lower blood pressure in hypertensive human patients.
POM Wonderful juices and concentrates require refrigeration to maintain their full effects and flavour, said the company.
