Ellagic acid is a plant chemical found in fruits, particularly raspberries and pomegranates, and some nuts. Available through food sources, or as a dietary supplement, ellagic acid is hailed for its potential health benefits and is used to treat various medical conditions. Before taking any dietary supplement, you should speak to your physician about any possible benefits or adverse effects, especially if you are currently on any medication.
Cancer Treatment
The studies on ellagic acid that have shown it to be beneficial in cancer treatment have been done primarily on animals or in cell cultures, according to the American Cancer Society, but the outcomes of the studies have been promising. In one particular study, researchers at the University of Louisville in Kentucky fed rats with mammary tumors diets that were supplemented with berries and ellagic acid. The results, published in the June 2010 issue of Cancer Prevention Research, showed that consumption of ellagic acid helped to prevent breast tumors. The American Cancer Society reports that ellagic acid has also shown positive results against the formation and growth of tumors in the skin, lungs and esophagus.
Healthy Skin
If you are looking for a way to keep your skin young and healthy, consuming ellagic acid in berries or supplements may help. The American Academy of Dermatologists reports that sun exposure is the primary cause of premature aging of the skin, and that exposure of only minutes a day can take a dramatic toll on the skin over several years. Researchers in Korea tested the effects of ellagic acid on sun induced skin damage in hairless mice as well as human skin cells. What they found, published in the January 2010 issue of Experimental Dermatology, was that ellagic acid prevented the breakdown of collagen, wrinkling, inflammation and thickening of the skin.
Blood Sugar control
High blood sugar, or diabetes, occurs when the body does not respond well to, or produce, insulin. The National Institutes of Health explains that insulin transports sugar to cells, but when the process malfunctions, sugar is left circulating in the bloodstream, which can lead to a host of medical problems such as heart disease, eye problems, kidney trouble, poor circulation and even stroke. Ellagic acid has been found to be effective in lowering blood sugar levels. A study performed by researchers at Chung Shan Medical University and China Medical University in Taiwan examined the effects of ellagic acid and caffeic acid on circulating blood glucose in mice. The results of the study, published in the Aug. 14, 2009 issue of Nutrition and Metabolism, showed that ellagic acid had the ability to elevate insulin levels and lower blood sugar levels. Ellagic acid was also found in the heart tissue of the mice, where it had anti-inflammatory and anticoagulatory effects. Not only did ellagic acid lower blood sugar levels, researchers concluded that it lowered triglycerides and can help to prevent and treat heart inflammation that is a result of diabetes.
References
- American Cancer Society: Ellagic Acid
- PubMed: Cancer Prevention Research: Berries and Ellagic Acid Prevent Estrogen-Induced Mammary Tumorigenesis
- American Academy of Dermatologists: AgingSkinNet:: Causes of Aging Skin
- PubMed: Experimental Dermatology: Dietary compound ellagic acid alleviates skin wrinkle and inflammation
- National Institutes of Health: Medline Plus: Diabetes
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