You may recall a recent study I posted that describes how antioxidant-rich pomegranate juice can fight heart disease. A new study of mice has prompted researchers at Washington University to urge expectant mothers at risk of premature births to consider drinking pomegranate juice. The reason: Helping their babies resist brain injuries from low oxygen and reduced blood flow.
These symptoms are associated with hypoxia ischemia, a condition that causes brain injury in a higher percentage of babies born prior to 34 weeks, as well as two out of every 1,000 full-term births. Hypoxia ischemia can lead to a number of terrible outcomes:
- Seizures.
- Mobility impairments, including cerebral palsy.
- Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, a degenerative condition.
In a comparison among a number of fluids, water mixed with pomegranate concentrate was the clear winner, reducing brain tissue loss by 60 percent compared to sugar water or other fluids. Also, much of the damage from hypoxia ischemia happens when oxygen-starved brain cells self-destruct via apoptosis. Scientists found an enzyme linked to apoptosis, caspase-3, was 84 percent less active in mice whose mothers drank pomegranate juice.
Despite the good news, there's two major caveats you should strongly consider. For one, the study was funded with the help of POM Wonderful, a U.S. producer of pomegranates and pomegranate juice, which means there may be bias involved.
And, when you drink the juice of a fruit, your body will tend to concentrate the sugars, which can potentially increase your insulin levels. When the fruit is intact and whole, however, its fiber will somewhat moderate the release of fructose and insulin into the bloodstream. Because many Americans already struggle with this issue, most of you should avoid juices, even the healthy ones like pomegranate juice.
Some of the best sources of antioxidants found in high-fiber low-sugar fruits: Cranberries, blueberries and blackberries.
Pediatric Research, Vol. 57, June 2005: 858-864
Science Blog June 28, 2005