Background/Aim: Polyphenol compounds obtained from pomegranate have
beneficial pharmacological activities in the treatment of diabetes mellitus type 2
(DMT2). Most of DMT2 patients are overweight or obese and obesity by itself is
very much related to insulin resistance and abnormalities in insulin secretion. This
clinical study aimed to evaluate the pomegranate peel extract (PoPEx) activity on
anthropometric parameters and body composition of overweight patients with
DMT2.
Methods: Sixty patients with DMT2 on continuous metformin therapy were involved in this double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised clinical trial. Patients
from the study group (n=30) were treated with capsules containing PoPEx (250
mg) twice a day for 8-week period, while those ones from the placebo group (n=30)
received placebo capsules for the same period. Anthropometric characteristics
(body weight, waist circumference, fat mass percentage, visceral fat level) were
measured at the beginning and at the end of the study.
Results: Eight-week treatment with PoPEx resulted in significant changes in BMI
(mean value ± standard deviation: 0.18 ± 0.30 kg/m2
) and body mass (0.48 ± 0.93
kg). The intake of PoPEx produced a significant decrease in waist circumference
(z = -4.613, p < 0.001, r = 0.60) indicating a large effect size using Cohen’s d-test,
and a non-significant decrease in the level of visceral fat. The results showed a
non-significant reduction in fat mass percentage in PoPEx group (-0.58 ± 2.21 %,
p = 0.159) compared with the placebo group (0.14 ± 1.24 %, p = 0.546).
Conclusion: The eight-week supplementation with PoPEx had a beneficial effect
on anthropometry and body composition of overweight diabetic patients.
