New evidence
A 12-week trial of 740 mg/day pomegranate extract lowered IL-6 in adults 55–70 — but only two of five inflammatory markers budged.
This is among the first rigorous tests of pomegranate extract for inflammation in older adults, and while the results are promising for IL-6 and IL-1β, the fact that C-reactive protein and TNF-α didn’t move means the anti-inflammatory effect may be selective — and we need replication before drawing broad conclusions.
In a double-blind trial, 86 adults aged 55–70 took either 740 mg of pomegranate extract or a placebo daily for 12 weeks. The supplement group saw a significant drop in two inflammatory markers (IL-6 and IL-1β), which are linked to chronic low-grade inflammation and aging, but no change in two other common markers (CRP and TNF-α) or in diastolic blood pressure. This suggests pomegranate may affect some inflammatory pathways more than others, but the study is small and the first of its kind, so the results are intriguing but far from definitive.
Where this fits in the evidence
This is among the first studies we've indexed on Pomegranate for Reduced Interleukin-6 Levels — treat it as an early signal until more research accumulates.
The study
- Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
- n = 86
- 2025-04-01
- Nutrients
- PubMed: 40218993
- DOI: 10.3390/nu17071235
- Full study breakdown →
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