Research shows that pomegranates can provide a solution for fatty liver disease

Researchers from Edith Cowan University (ECU) are investigating the effects that ellagic acid, an antioxidant found in some fruits and vegetables, could have on stopping and possibly reversing the damage caused by fatty liver disease.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the physiological manifestation of obesity in the liver. The prevalence of NAFLD has increased from 25.24% in 2015 to 29.38% in 2021, and this condition now accounts for 45.8% of all deaths from chronic liver diseases worldwide.

There is currently no treatment for the long-term management of NAFLD; However, nutritional interventions have been explored for the treatment of this disease, including various polyphenolic compounds such as ellagic acid.

ECU researcher Dr. Lois Balmer and Ph.D. student Ms. Tharani Senavirathna noted that ellagic acid, which is found in a variety of foods such as raspberries, pomegranate, blackberries and pecans, is widely recognized for its antioxidant properties, but also exhibits anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic and anti-cancer properties.

The paper is published in the news Antioxidants.

“Ellagic acid stands out as a remarkable polyphenolic compound, possessing a wide range of pharmacological properties that show promise in the treatment of several chronic diseases, including NAFLD.

“Due to their versatile biological effects, edible plants containing ellagic acid, and its derivatives, are recognized as valuable functional foods for improving human health. Furthermore, there is evidence that ellagic acid, in combination with other antioxidant nutraceuticals, exhibits a synergistic therapeutic effect. , making it a potential candidate for combination therapy.”

Ms Senavirathna was involved in a previously conducted pilot study investigating the effects of various polyphenolic compounds on NAFLD, with ellagic acid showing the most promise in reducing inflammation.

A larger study is now being conducted that will also investigate at what point in the disease treatment would be ineffective in reversing the damage to the liver.