Could A Pomegranate Compound Help A Stiff Heart? Study Finds Up To 80% Improvement In Heart Function

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A new study has put a spotlight on a compound linked to pomegranates after researchers found that it improved measures of heart function by up to 80% in experimental models of heart failure. But before you add more pomegranate to your diet expecting the same result, there is an important detail: the study did not test pomegranate itself in people.

The research focused on urolithin A, a compound produced when certain gut bacteria break down ellagitannins found in foods such as pomegranates, walnuts and some berries.

What Did The Study Find?

Published in Science Advances, the study investigated whether urolithin A could help with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). In this condition, the heart can still pump blood relatively normally but becomes stiff and has difficulty relaxing and filling between beats.

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Researchers found that urolithin A activated PKGIα, a protein involved in blood-vessel function and heart-muscle relaxation. The researchers identified a specific site on this protein, called cysteine 42 (Cys42), that urolithin A targets.

In animal models designed to mimic HFpEF, treatment with urolithin A improved measures of diastolic heart function, reduced cardiac fibrosis and limited abnormal enlargement of heart muscle cells. Some measures of cardiac function improved by up to 80% compared with untreated animals.

Does Eating Pomegranate Give You The Same Benefit?

Not necessarily. The researchers administered urolithin A directly in their experimental models. They did not give participants pomegranates and measure an 80% improvement in heart function.

The amount of urolithin A that a person's body produces after eating foods containing ellagitannins can also vary because gut bacteria differ from one person to another.

The study additionally tested urolithin A in engineered human heart tissue made from stem cells. The compound improved measures related to both contraction and relaxation in this laboratory model. However, these were not human patients.

What Does This Mean For Heart Health?

The findings are interesting because HFpEF remains an important form of heart failure, and the study points to PKGIα Cys42 as a potential therapeutic target.

However, human clinical trials are still needed to establish whether urolithin A can safely and effectively treat heart failure in people.

That also means you shouldn't consider pomegranate or pomegranate juice a treatment for heart failure based on this study. Pomegranates have been investigated separately for possible cardiovascular benefits, but those findings should not be combined with the new urolithin A research.

Before You Reach For The Pomegranate

The 80% figure is promising, but it comes from experimental models, not human patients. For now, the study offers researchers a new lead for investigating HFpEF rather than proof that eating pomegranates can dramatically improve heart function.

If future clinical trials confirm the findings, a compound associated with a familiar fruit could eventually become part of a very different conversation about treating heart failure.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.