Adjuvant Pomegranate Juice Intake Improves the Inflammatory Status and Clinical Outcomes of Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients: An Exploratory Randomized and Placebo-Controlled Trial​

15 Pages Posted: 29 Nov 2022

See all articles by Mojtaba Yousefi

Mojtaba Yousefi

Yasuj University of Medical Sciences

Mohammadreza sadriirani

Yasuj University of Medical Sciences

Sara Mahmoodi

Tehran University of Medical Sciences

Bahar Samimi

Yasuj University of Medical Sciences

Azizollah Pourmahmoudi

Yasuj University of Medical Sciences

Mahboobe Hosseinikia

Yasuj University of Medical Sciences

Omid Sadeghi

Isfahan University of Medical Sciences

Narges Roustaei

Yasuj University of Medical Sciences

Zaker Saeedinezhad

Yasuj University of Medical Sciences

Juan Carlos Espín

Segura Center for Edaphology and Applied Biology - Higher Council for Scientific Research (CEBAS-CSIC)

Somaye Ansari

Yasuj University of Medical Sciences

SeyedBahman Panahande

Yasuj University of Medical Sciences

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of pomegranate juice intake on the inflammatory status and complete blood count in hospitalized Covid-19 patients.

Methods: This exploratory randomized, double-blinded placebo-controlled trial included 43 patients with two parallel arms(22+21). In addition to the standard care provided at the hospital, the patients consumed 500mL of whole pomegranate juice(PJ) daily or a placebo for 14 days. Inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein(CRP), interleukin-6(IL-6), erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR)) and complete blood count were determined at baseline and after the 14 days of intervention.

Results: At the end of the intervention, a significant decreased was observed in Primary outcomes [mean difference (95%CI)] including IL-6 [5.24(0.87 to 9.61)], CRP [23.19(11.93 to 34.44)] and ESR [10.52(1.54 to 19.50)] in the PJ group vs. to before the intervention. In addition, significant changes were also observed in the some of the secondary outcomes, including neutrophils, lymphocytes, platelets, platelets-to-lymphocyte(PLR) and neutrophils-to-lymphocyte (NLR) ratios (p<0.05) in the PJ group compared to before the intervention. At the end of the intervention, the mean change of IL-6 [-7.09(-12.21 to -1.96)], white blood cells [-3.09(-6.14 to -0.05)], neutrophils [-9.12(-18.08 to -0.15)], lymphocyte [7.05(0.17 to 13.92)], platelets [-94.54(-139.33 to -49.75)], PLR [-15.99(-29.31 to -2.67)], blood oxygen saturation [1.75(0.13 to 3.37)] and MCV [0.31(-0.25 to 0.88)] levels were significantly different between groups. While no difference was observed between the two groups in other blood indices.

Conclusion: Our results suggest that pomegranate juice intake might slightly improve the inflammatory status and CBC outcomes of COVID-19 patients and may be beneficial.

Note:
Funding Information: This study was funded and supported by Yasuj University of Medical Sciences (Grant number: 990913), Yasuj, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province, Iran.

Conflict of Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Ethical Approval: This trial was performed according to the guidelines of the Helsinki Declaration and approved by the Ethical Committee of Research, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences (IR.YUMS.REC.1399.181).

Trial Registration: Recorded at the Iranian registry of clinical trials (IRCT20150711023153N2).

Keywords: COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, pomegranate, inflammation, Complete Blood Count

Suggested Citation

Yousefi, Mojtaba and sadriirani, Mohammadreza and Mahmoodi, Sara and Samimi, Bahar and Pourmahmoudi, Azizollah and Hosseinikia, Mahboobe and Sadeghi, Omid and Roustaei, Narges and Saeedinezhad, Zaker and Espín, Juan Carlos and Ansari, Somaye and Panahande, SeyedBahman, Adjuvant Pomegranate Juice Intake Improves the Inflammatory Status and Clinical Outcomes of Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients: An Exploratory Randomized and Placebo-Controlled Trial​. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4261602 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4261602

Mojtaba Yousefi

Yasuj University of Medical Sciences ( email )

Iran

Mohammadreza Sadriirani

Yasuj University of Medical Sciences ( email )

Iran

Sara Mahmoodi

Tehran University of Medical Sciences ( email )

Number 21, Dameshg St.
Vali-e Asr Ave.
Tehran, 14195
Iran

Bahar Samimi

Yasuj University of Medical Sciences ( email )

Iran

Azizollah Pourmahmoudi

Yasuj University of Medical Sciences ( email )

Iran

Mahboobe Hosseinikia

Yasuj University of Medical Sciences ( email )

Iran

Omid Sadeghi

Isfahan University of Medical Sciences ( email )

Hezar Jerib Avenue
Isfahan, 81745
Iran

Narges Roustaei

Yasuj University of Medical Sciences ( email )

Iran

Zaker Saeedinezhad

Yasuj University of Medical Sciences ( email )

Iran

Juan Carlos Espín

Segura Center for Edaphology and Applied Biology - Higher Council for Scientific Research (CEBAS-CSIC) ( email )

Somaye Ansari

Yasuj University of Medical Sciences

SeyedBahman Panahande (Contact Author)

Yasuj University of Medical Sciences ( email )

Iran

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