Pomegranate Juice Shows Vascular Benefits 33050

Pomegranate Juice Shows Vascular Benefits

WASHINGTONPomegranate juiceshowed cardiovascular benefits in both laboratory mice and in cultured humancoronary artery endothelial cells, according to a study published March 21,online ahead of print, in Proceedings of the NationalAcademy of Sciences (www.pnas.org). The scientistsreported antioxidant-rich pomegranate juice reduced progression ofatherosclerosis by at least 30 percent in mice who were bred to have highcholesterol. Similarly, the cultured heart cells treated with the juice had a50-percent increase in nitric oxide production, which helps blood vessels relax.