Prospective Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of a Standardized Oral Pomegranate Extract on the Gut Microbiome and Short-Chain Fatty Acids
<i>Punica granatum</i> L., commonly known as the pomegranate, is an abundant source of polyphenols, including hydrolyzable ellagitannins, ellagic acid, anthocyanins, and other bioactive phytochemicals shown to be effective in defending against oxidative stress, and has immunomodulatory a...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Foods |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/13/1/15 |
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| author | Raja K. Sivamani Mincy Chakkalakal Adrianne Pan Dawnica Nadora Mildred Min Ashley Dumont Waqas A. Burney Cindy J. Chambers |
| author_facet | Raja K. Sivamani Mincy Chakkalakal Adrianne Pan Dawnica Nadora Mildred Min Ashley Dumont Waqas A. Burney Cindy J. Chambers |
| author_sort | Raja K. Sivamani |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Punica granatum</i> L., commonly known as the pomegranate, is an abundant source of polyphenols, including hydrolyzable ellagitannins, ellagic acid, anthocyanins, and other bioactive phytochemicals shown to be effective in defending against oxidative stress, and has immunomodulatory activities. Ellagitannins, and their hydrolyzed product ellagic acid, interact with the gut microbiota to yield secondary metabolites known as urolithins that may have health benefits. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of supplementation with a standardized punicalagin-enriched pomegranate extract, Pomella<sup>®</sup> (250 mg), on the gut microbiome, circulating short-chain fatty acids, and gut microbial-derived ellagitannin metabolite urolithins. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted over 4 weeks on healthy volunteers aged 25–55 years. Subjects were randomly assigned to receive either an oral supplement containing 75 mg of punicalagin or an oral placebo. Stool sample collection and venipuncture were performed to analyze the gut microbiome, SCFAs, and urolithin. There was no significant change in the gut microbial diversity in both cohorts after 4 weeks of intervention, but there was a significantly increased relative abundance of <i>Coprococcus eutectus</i>, <i>Roseburia faecis</i>, <i>Roseburia inullnivorans</i>, <i>Ruminococcus bicirculans</i>, <i>Ruminococcus calidus</i>, and <i>Faecalibacterium prausnitzii</i>. Pomegranate extract (PE) supplementation led to the augmentation of circulating propionate levels (<i>p</i> = 0.02) and an increasing trend for acetate levels (<i>p</i> = 0.12). The pomegranate extract (PE) supplementation group had an increased level of circulating urolithins compared to the placebo group (6.6% vs. 1.1%, <i>p</i> = 0.13). PE supplementation correlated with shifts in the gut microbiome and with higher circulating levels of propionate and acetate. Further studies should explore the implications in larger cohorts and over a longer duration. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T15:07:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-361213d53c6346078152fe05b5e4fda1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2304-8158 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T15:07:14Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
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| record_format | Article |
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| spelling | doaj.art-361213d53c6346078152fe05b5e4fda12024-01-10T14:56:35ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582023-12-011311510.3390/foods13010015Prospective Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of a Standardized Oral Pomegranate Extract on the Gut Microbiome and Short-Chain Fatty AcidsRaja K. Sivamani0Mincy Chakkalakal1Adrianne Pan2Dawnica Nadora3Mildred Min4Ashley Dumont5Waqas A. Burney6Cindy J. Chambers7Integrative Skin Science and Research, Sacramento, CA 95815, USAIntegrative Skin Science and Research, Sacramento, CA 95815, USAIntegrative Skin Science and Research, Sacramento, CA 95815, USAIntegrative Skin Science and Research, Sacramento, CA 95815, USAIntegrative Skin Science and Research, Sacramento, CA 95815, USACoastal Thyme Holistic Skin and Wellness, Plymouth, NH 03801, USAIntegrative Skin Science and Research, Sacramento, CA 95815, USAIntegrative Skin Science and Research, Sacramento, CA 95815, USA<i>Punica granatum</i> L., commonly known as the pomegranate, is an abundant source of polyphenols, including hydrolyzable ellagitannins, ellagic acid, anthocyanins, and other bioactive phytochemicals shown to be effective in defending against oxidative stress, and has immunomodulatory activities. Ellagitannins, and their hydrolyzed product ellagic acid, interact with the gut microbiota to yield secondary metabolites known as urolithins that may have health benefits. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of supplementation with a standardized punicalagin-enriched pomegranate extract, Pomella<sup>®</sup> (250 mg), on the gut microbiome, circulating short-chain fatty acids, and gut microbial-derived ellagitannin metabolite urolithins. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted over 4 weeks on healthy volunteers aged 25–55 years. Subjects were randomly assigned to receive either an oral supplement containing 75 mg of punicalagin or an oral placebo. Stool sample collection and venipuncture were performed to analyze the gut microbiome, SCFAs, and urolithin. There was no significant change in the gut microbial diversity in both cohorts after 4 weeks of intervention, but there was a significantly increased relative abundance of <i>Coprococcus eutectus</i>, <i>Roseburia faecis</i>, <i>Roseburia inullnivorans</i>, <i>Ruminococcus bicirculans</i>, <i>Ruminococcus calidus</i>, and <i>Faecalibacterium prausnitzii</i>. Pomegranate extract (PE) supplementation led to the augmentation of circulating propionate levels (<i>p</i> = 0.02) and an increasing trend for acetate levels (<i>p</i> = 0.12). The pomegranate extract (PE) supplementation group had an increased level of circulating urolithins compared to the placebo group (6.6% vs. 1.1%, <i>p</i> = 0.13). PE supplementation correlated with shifts in the gut microbiome and with higher circulating levels of propionate and acetate. Further studies should explore the implications in larger cohorts and over a longer duration.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/13/1/15pomegranatePomellaellagitanninspunicalagingut microbiomegut health |
| spellingShingle | Raja K. Sivamani Mincy Chakkalakal Adrianne Pan Dawnica Nadora Mildred Min Ashley Dumont Waqas A. Burney Cindy J. Chambers Prospective Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of a Standardized Oral Pomegranate Extract on the Gut Microbiome and Short-Chain Fatty Acids Foods pomegranate Pomella ellagitannins punicalagin gut microbiome gut health |
| title | Prospective Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of a Standardized Oral Pomegranate Extract on the Gut Microbiome and Short-Chain Fatty Acids |
| title_full | Prospective Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of a Standardized Oral Pomegranate Extract on the Gut Microbiome and Short-Chain Fatty Acids |
| title_fullStr | Prospective Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of a Standardized Oral Pomegranate Extract on the Gut Microbiome and Short-Chain Fatty Acids |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prospective Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of a Standardized Oral Pomegranate Extract on the Gut Microbiome and Short-Chain Fatty Acids |
| title_short | Prospective Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of a Standardized Oral Pomegranate Extract on the Gut Microbiome and Short-Chain Fatty Acids |
| title_sort | prospective randomized double blind placebo controlled study of a standardized oral pomegranate extract on the gut microbiome and short chain fatty acids |
| topic | pomegranate Pomella ellagitannins punicalagin gut microbiome gut health |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/13/1/15 |
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