In recent years there have been numerous studies revealing the benefits of consuming particular fruits and vegetables due to their potential antioxidant effects. Pomegranate juice has attracted huge scientific interest due to its range of antioxidant contents. Some of these compounds are polyphenols, tannins, and anthocyanins, which are beneficial for the reduction of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, and osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis is a condition caused by damaged tissue, loss of cartilage structure and function, and an imbalance in inflammatory and anti-inflammatory pathways. Chondrocytes respond to physical damage by stopping the production of anabolic factors and by releasing more catabolic enzymes, such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs).
Although there is no cure for osteoarthritis, as it is very hard to restore the destroyed cartilage, recent studies have shown a strong correlation between polyphenols and the prevention of osteoarthritis-related musculoskeletal inflammation. Nasrin Ghoochani, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Iran, and colleagues performed the first clinical trial on the effect of pomegranate juice on knee osteoarthritis.
Among the patients that participated, it was found that pomegranate juice could significantly decrease Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis index (WOMAC) score and improve physical function and stiffness, with no significant effect on pain score. It may also stop osteoarthritis progression by a significant decrease in mean serum levels of MMP-13.
- The effect of pomegranate juice on clinical signs, matrix metalloproteinases and antioxidant status in patients with knee osteoarthritis
N. Ghoochani, M. Karandish, K. Mowla, M. H. Haghighizadeh, M. T. Jalali,
J. Sci. Food Agric. 2016
DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.7647
