Traditional medicine has employed pomegranates as a folk remedy for millennia. More recently, the polyphenols in pomegranates have demonstrated promising effects in the treatment of several cancers, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. That said, most of the research on the nutritional value of pomegranates for cancer remains limited to laboratory and animal studies, and little pertains directly to the treatment of kidney cancer. Seek medical clearance before you supplement with pomegranates if you have kidney cancer, or if you run the risk of developing the condition.
Causes
Renal cell carcinoma represents the most prevalent form of kidney cancer, according to Pub Med Health. It affects adult males more than females, typically between the ages of 50 and 70. This form of kidney cancer can stem from multiple risk factors, including heredity, dialysis, hypertension, cigarette smoking and pre-existing kidney conditions such as polycystic kidney disease or horseshoe kidney -– a disorder wherein both kidneys fuse into the shape of a horseshoe while still in the womb.
Polyphenols
Polyphenols are plant-based chemical compounds that impart the rich color to fruits and vegetables. The polyphenols in pomegranates are called ellagitannins; these polyphenols display potent anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. According to researchers from the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California-Los Angeles, the ellagitannins in pomegranates can inhibit the growth of cancer cells in both animal and laboratory studies. Pomegranate juice also demonstrated benefits to prostate cancer patients in clinical trials. While this research remains preliminary, it does suggest that there may be a role for pomegranates in kidney cancer. The results of this study appeared in the October 2008 issue of the journal "Cancer Letters."
Vitamin C
Pomegranates provide a rich source of vitamin C. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, one pomegranate provides you with 40 percent of the recommended daily allowance. Vitamin C confers antioxidant benefits, which defend cells against the oxidative stress often associated with the development of cancer. Kidney cancers typically do not respond to radiation or chemotherapy, according to Pub Med Health. However, cases exist wherein vitamin C treatment prolonged survival time in kidney cancer patients, according to a review conducted by researchers from the National Institutes of Health and published in the March 2006 issue of the "Canadian Medical Association Journal."
Interactions
Pomegranate, especially pomegranate juice, does interact with some medications, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. If you have kidney cancer and you are taking medications for other conditions such as hypertension, diabetes or high cholesterol, pomegranates may cause an unfavorable reaction, so speak to your doctor before you supplement with pomegranates.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Pomegranate; Steven D. Ehrlich, N.M.D.; December 2009
- Pub Med Health; Renal Cell Carcinoma; David C. Dugdale, III, M.D., et al.; February 2011
- "Cancer Letters"; Multitargeted Therapy of Cancer by Ellagitannins; D. Heber; October 2008
- "Canadian Medical Association Journal"; Intravenously Administered Vitamin C as Cancer Therapy: Three Cases; Sebastian J. Padayatty, et al.; March 2006
