New evidence
Pomegranate consumption tied to a 0.63 standard deviation drop in a blood vessel inflammation marker — but the finding rests on just three clinical trials.
This meta-analysis provides the first pooled evidence that pomegranate may reduce ICAM-1, a sign of endothelial inflammation, but the small number of trials and missing dose details mean the effect is preliminary and far from settled.
ICAM-1 is a sticky protein on blood vessel walls that helps immune cells latch on, fueling inflammation. The analysis of three trials found a moderate, consistent reduction in ICAM-1 after pomegranate intake, yet another related marker (VCAM-1) did not budge in the same studies. Because the evidence is early and limited, it's too soon to draw firm conclusions about pomegranate's anti-inflammatory effects on blood vessels.
Where this fits in the evidence
This is among the first studies we've indexed on pomegranate for Reduced Soluble Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 Level — treat it as an early signal until more research accumulates.
The study
- Meta-Analysis
- 2025-04-28
- Journal of dietary supplements
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