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Pomegranate Compound Improves Heart Function in Mice by Up to 80%
Confirmed
In Short: Researchers at King's College London have discovered that a compound called urolithin A, produced in the body after consuming pomegranates, walnuts, and some berries, can significantly improve heart function in mice with heart failure.
In mouse models with stiff and failing hearts, urolithin A improved measures of heart function by as much as 80 percent compared to untreated animals, according to a press release from KCL.
The findings, published in Science Advances, show that urolithin A activates a protein called PKGIα, which plays a key role in heart health.
In mice with stiff and failing hearts, urolithin A reduced scarring in the heart and helped the organ to relax properly between beats.
The study also examined human heart tissue made from stem cells in the lab, where urolithin A helped the tissue relax more effectively and reduced fibrosis.
"This type of heart failure is becoming increasingly common as populations age and rates of obesity and diabetes rise," explains Burgoyne.
"While these findings are promising, the benefits have so far been seen in animals and engineered human tissue, so clinical trials involving people are needed to test if this approach is effective for patients," says James Leiper, Director of Research at the British Heart Foundation.
"This raises the exciting possibility of developing new treatments that improve clinical outcomes and quality of life for people living with the condition," says Joseph Burgoyne, senior author of the study.
While there isn't enough evidence to suggest that people should eat pomegranates to treat heart failure, these findings raise the possibility that dietary approaches that enhance urolithin A production may help alleviate this condition.
What this adds
The study was based on research conducted in mice and also in human heart tissue made from stem cells in the lab.
The research did not include female mice, despite women being more likely to develop this form of heart failure.
What's confirmed
- In mouse models with stiff and failing hearts, urolithin A improved measures of heart function by as much as 80 percent compared to untreated animals, according to a press release from KCL.
- The findings are published in Science Advances, with financial support from the British Heart Foundation.
- It's called heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), a cardiovascular condition that occurs when the heart still squeezes normally but is too stiff to relax properly during the refilling stage.
- "This type of heart failure is becoming increasingly common as populations age and rates of obesity and diabetes rise," explains Burgoyne.
- "While these findings are promising, the benefits have so far been seen in animals and engineered human tissue, so clinical trials involving people are needed to test if this approach is effective for patients," says James Leiper, Director of Research at the British Heart Foundation.
- "This raises the exciting possibility of developing new treatments that improve clinical outcomes and quality of life for people living with the condition," says cardiovascular scientist Joseph Burgoyne, senior author of the study.
- "While there isn't enough evidence to suggest that people should eat pomegranates to treat heart failure, these findings raise the possibility that dietary approaches that enhance urolithin A production may help alleviate this condition." The study was based on research conducted in mice and also in human heart tissue made from stem cells in the lab.
- In mice with stiff and failing hearts, urolithin A reduced scarring in the heart and helped the organ to relax properly between beats.
- Researchers at King's College London found that urolithin A, which is produced in the body after eating foods including pomegranates, walnuts and some berries, can help the heart relax more effectively.
- For the first time, the researchers found that urolithin A activates a protein called PKGlα, which plays an important role in blood vessel function and the relaxation of heart muscle.
- Laboratory experiments also showed that urolithin A helped heart tissue relax more effectively and reduced fibrosis, the harmful scarring that can interfere with normal heart function.
- His research examines how cells respond to oxidative stress and is helping reveal new mechanisms involved in blood pressure, heart function and vascular health.
What's still developing
- Each time you eat a juicy pomegranate, your gut bacteria can produce a natural metabolite called urolithin A.
- This little-known compound is making a big splash.
- The results have scientists hopeful that urolithin A could be a previously unidentified treatment option for a common form of heart failure.
- "Eating plenty of fruit and vegetables is linked to better heart health, but it's important to remember that no single food can prevent or treat heart disease on its own."
- Research led by Professor Lu Qi (Tulane University) People who slept with more light in their rooms went on to develop a 29% higher risk of heart failure and a 33% higher risk of stroke than those who slept in near-total darkness, according to a study of more than 70,000 adults.
- A larger group of 73,286 participants was followed for eight to ten years to see who developed heart failure, an irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation, heart attack, stroke, or death from heart disease.
- Researchers also found mild enlargement in the right side of the heart, plus enlargement and reduced pumping function in the upper-left chamber, called the left atrium.
- Those with the most nighttime light had thicker heart walls, larger heart chambers, and hearts showing subtle signs of reduced contraction and poorer mechanical function.
- Taking care of your physical and mental well-being can help keep your body and joints functioning for longer, maintain bone health and muscle strength, reduce frailty, and even lessen the risk of certain health conditions, like type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
- Researchers at King's College London found that urolithin A improved the heart's ability to relax in experimental models of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, or HFpEF.
- They found that urolithin A targets a specific amino acid on the protein, activating a pathway involved in cardiovascular function.
- This provided additional evidence that the biological effect observed in animal models could potentially be relevant to human heart tissue.