Pomegranate juice is not only high in vitamin C but also contains a group of antioxidants called polyphenols, which have been associated with reducing "bad" -- low-density lipoprotein -- cholesterol and improving blood flow. Although pomegranate juice offers several benefits, evidence indicates that it's not effective for lowering HbA1c levels in your body.
HbA1c
HbA1c, also called hemoglobin A1C, is a test used to measure your average blood sugar levels for the past two to three months, especially important if you have diabetes. Red blood cells contain a protein molecule called hemoglobin, which carries oxygen through your body. HbA1c measures how much sugar has coated the hemoglobin. For nondiabetics, HbA1c should be between 4.5 and 6 percent, whereas for someone with diabetes it will normally be higher than 6.5 percent, according to MayoClinic.com.
Pomegranate Juice
Pomegranate juice might not lower HbA1c levels or glucose levels, according to a study performed by researchers at the Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and the Rappaport Family Institute for Research in the Medical Sciences in Israel. They studied the impact of daily pomegranate juice on diabetic parameters, including blood sugar levels and LDL oxidation, which increases your risk for heart disease. They discovered that Type 2 diabetics ingesting pomegranate juice daily for three months experienced decreases in LDL oxidation, but no changes in HbA1c levels or blood glucose levels, according to findings reported in the August 2006 issue of "Atherosclerosis."
Type 2 Diabetics
The same group of researchers performed a similar study two years later and investigated the impact of pomegranate juice consumption on Type 2 diabetic patients. Participants consumed 50 mL of pomegranate juice daily for four weeks. At the end of the study, which was reported in the August 2008 issue of the "Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry," researchers found that pomegranate juice had no effect on HbA1c levels.
Interactions
If you decide to drink pomegranate juice, keep in mind that it can interact with several medications, including ACE inhibitors and blood pressure medications, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Consult your health care provider before ingesting pomegranate juice if you have health problems.
References
- Mayo Clinic; A1c Test; January 2011
- "Atherosclerosis"; Anti-Oxidative Effects of Pomegranate Juice (PJ) Consumption by Diabetic Patients on Serum and on Macrophages; M. Rosenblat, et al.; August 2006
- "Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry"; Consumption of Wonderful Variety Pomegranate Juice and Extract by Diabetic Patients Increases Paraoxonase 1 Association With High-Density Lipoprotein and Stimulates its Catalytic Activities; W. Rock, et al.; August 2008
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Pomegranate
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