The blame is on improved blood flow

Jul 3, 2007 18:46 GMT  ·  By

The pomegranate benefits seem to be more than just a load of vitamin C. A pilot research has shown that POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice induce beneficial effects on erectile dysfunction (ED) or impotence, a condition affecting over 10 % of the men worldwide and about 20 million just in US alone.

ED can be caused by many factors, from arterial plaque, high blood pressure, heart disease to diabetes, nerve damage, endocrine imbalance, or depression (if we exclude smoking and drinking). In the end, an erection is an increased blood flow into the penis during sexual stimulation.

The investigation was made on 61 subjects, suffering from moderate ED. The subjects were in stable monogamous relationships and willing to attempt sexual intercourse at least once weekly.

During the first four weeks of the trial, the subjects were assigned in two groups, drinking either 250 ml of Pomegranate Juice or 250 ml of placebo beverage daily with their breakfast or shortly after. After a two-week washout, when the men did not drink any of the research beverage (nor followed any ED cure), they had to drink 250 ml of the opposite research beverage for another four weeks.

At the end of every four-week cycle, efficacy was determined on the base of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) and Global Assessment Questionnaires (GAQ).

47 % of the volunteers reported erections improved with POM Wonderful Pomegranate Juice, while just 32% with the placebo. This matches a recent 24-week research employing a PDE5 inhibitor (like Cialis), in which roughly 73% of volunteers reported an improved effect from the PDE5 inhibitor and 26% a "placebo effect" (improvement while on the placebo, due to auto-suggestion).

The team recognized that supplementary longer researches made on larger pools would have more statistical significance.

It is suspected that the potent antioxidant content of pomegranate juice can impede the harmful action of the free radicals in circulatory function. Many researches pointed that pomegranate juice improves blood flow and decreases or even reverses arterial plaque development. By decreasing arterial plaque and enhancing blood vessel dilation, the pomegranate antioxidants favor erection.

"These findings are very encouraging as they suggest there is a non-invasive, non-drug way to potentially alleviate this quality of life issue that affects so many men. For men with ED, it is important to maintain a healthy diet and exercise. Drinking pomegranate juice daily could be an important addition to the diet in the management of this condition," said co-author Dr. Harin Padma-Nathan, Clinical Professor of Urology at the Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California.