Pomegranates Can Lower Risk of Diabetes

A recent study at the University of Houston, Texas assessed pomegranate seed oil (POMo) for its ability to offset the side effects associated with weight gain.

Male mice were divided into one of three groups: high-fat (HF), HF+seed oil (HF+POMo) or lean control (LN). In the HF and HF+POMo groups, mice were provided access ad libitum to a high-fat chow (60 percent of energy from fat). Mice in the HF+POMo group were supplemented with 61.79 mg of POMo/d. The LN group consumed a restricted low-fat (10 percent of energy from fat) chow to maintain body weight within 5 percent of initial weight.

Weight gain was associated with an increase in biomarkers of cholesterol profile, glucose sensitivity, adipose tissue accumulation and systemic low-grade inflammation (P<0.05).

POMo only altered body weight accumulation, final body weight, leptin, adiponectin and insulin (P<0.05). Researchers found despite a similar level of energy intake, HF mice had a greater concentration of leptin and a lower concentration of adiponectin compared to HF+POMo mice.

POMo intake was associated with an improvement in insulin sensitivity, suggesting the risk of developing type 2 diabetes may have been reduced; however, cardiovascular disease risk did not change