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Sivamani RK, Chakkalakal M, Pan A, Nadora D, Min M, Dumont A, Burney WA, Chambers CJ. Prospective Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of a Standardized Oral Pomegranate Extract on the Gut Microbiome and Short-Chain Fatty Acids. Foods 2023; 13:15. [PMID: 38201042 PMCID: PMC10778484 DOI: 10.3390/foods13010015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Punica granatum 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® (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 Coprococcus eutectus, Roseburia faecis, Roseburia inullnivorans, Ruminococcus bicirculans, Ruminococcus calidus, and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii. Pomegranate extract (PE) supplementation led to the augmentation of circulating propionate levels (p = 0.02) and an increasing trend for acetate levels (p = 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%, p = 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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raja K. Sivamani
- Integrative Skin Science and Research, Sacramento, CA 95815, USA
- Department of Dermatology, University of California-Davis, Sacramento, CA 95616, USA
- College of Medicine, California Northstate University, Elk Grove, CA 95757, USA
- Pacific Skin Institute, Sacramento, CA 95815, USA
| | | | - Adrianne Pan
- Integrative Skin Science and Research, Sacramento, CA 95815, USA
- College of Medicine, California Northstate University, Elk Grove, CA 95757, USA
| | - Dawnica Nadora
- Integrative Skin Science and Research, Sacramento, CA 95815, USA
- College of Medicine, California Northstate University, Elk Grove, CA 95757, USA
| | - Mildred Min
- Integrative Skin Science and Research, Sacramento, CA 95815, USA
- College of Medicine, California Northstate University, Elk Grove, CA 95757, USA
| | - Ashley Dumont
- Coastal Thyme Holistic Skin and Wellness, Plymouth, NH 03801, USA;
| | - Waqas A. Burney
- Integrative Skin Science and Research, Sacramento, CA 95815, USA
| | - Cindy J. Chambers
- Integrative Skin Science and Research, Sacramento, CA 95815, USA
- College of Medicine, California Northstate University, Elk Grove, CA 95757, USA
- Pacific Skin Institute, Sacramento, CA 95815, USA
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El-Ansary A, Al-Ayadhi L. Effects of Walnut and Pumpkin on Selective Neurophenotypes of Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Case Study. Nutrients 2023; 15:4564. [PMID: 37960217 PMCID: PMC10647375 DOI: 10.3390/nu15214564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Special diets or nutritional supplements are regularly given to treat children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The increased consumption of particular foods has been demonstrated in numerous trials to lessen autism-related symptoms and comorbidities. A case study on a boy with moderate autism who significantly improved after three years of following a healthy diet consisting of pumpkin and walnuts was examined in this review in connection to a few different neurophenotypes of ASD. We are able to suggest that a diet high in pumpkin and walnuts was useful in improving the clinical presentation of the ASD case evaluated by reducing oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, glutamate excitotoxicity, mitochondrial dysfunction, and altered gut microbiota, all of which are etiological variables. Using illustrated figures, a full description of the ways by which a diet high in pumpkin and nuts could assist the included case is offered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Afaf El-Ansary
- Autism Center, Lotus Holistic Alternative Medical Center, Abu Dhabi P.O. Box 110281, United Arab Emirates
- Autism Research and Treatment Center, P.O. Box 2925, Riyadh 11461, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Laila Al-Ayadhi
- Autism Research and Treatment Center, P.O. Box 2925, Riyadh 11461, Saudi Arabia;
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2925, Riyadh 11461, Saudi Arabia
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