Researchers have shown that a natural compound found in pomegranates can help reduce plaque buildup in arteries and lower the risk of heart disease.
Pomegranates contain a compound called punicalagin, a polyphenol linked to cardiovascular health. However, the body doesn’t absorb it directly and efficiently. Instead, gut bacteria break it down into smaller compounds called urolithins, the most prominent of which is urolithin A. This latter compound has attracted the attention of researchers due to its potent anti-atherosclerotic effect.
Atherosclerosis is a serious health problem caused by the buildup of fatty plaques inside the artery walls, which gradually narrows them and reduces blood flow. When one of these plaques ruptures, a blood clot can form and completely block the artery, causing a heart attack or stroke within minutes.
In the study, researchers from Cardiff University tested the compound punicalagin, ellagic acid, and several types of urolithins on human immune cells and blood vessel cells to determine their ability to reduce factors that contribute to arterial disease.
A social cause of heart disease!
The results showed that urolithin A was the most effective. It helped reduce oxidative stress, which causes cell damage, and reduced the activity of inflammatory genes. It also decreased the movement of immune cells toward blood vessel walls and prevented phagocytic cells from absorbing large amounts of cholesterol—key steps in the formation of arterial plaque.
To confirm these findings, the researchers moved on to animal experiments. They used genetically modified mice that were more prone to high cholesterol and atherosclerosis and put them on a high-fat diet for 12 weeks.
Half of the mice received daily supplements of urolithin A, while the other half received no treatment. At the end of the study, the treated mice showed fewer plaques, smaller plaques, a significant reduction in inflammation, and improved plaque stability.
Their plaques also contained higher levels of collagen and smooth muscle cells, making them less prone to rupture, a major cause of heart attacks and strokes.
Remarkably, this effect was achieved without any change in the mice’s cholesterol levels, suggesting that urolithin A works differently from traditional statins, which primarily target cholesterol.
Dr. Deepak Ramji, the study’s lead author and a professor of cardiovascular sciences at Cardiff University, said these findings help explain why diets rich in fruits like pomegranates are associated with heart health benefits. They also explain why people respond differently, as the efficiency of urolithin A production depends on each individual’s gut microbiome.
He added that some people naturally produce more of this compound than others, and while supplements are available, they are expensive compared to buying just one or two pomegranates. Although these results have not yet been tested on humans, researchers believe that urolithin A could become a promising tool for preventing heart disease in the future, by targeting inflammation and stabilizing plaques, a different mechanism that could complement current treatments.
