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Can Consuming Pomegranate Extract Help Reduce Risk of Colorectal Cancer?

Jul 31, 2021

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Home » Blogs » Can Consuming Pomegranate Extract Help Reduce Risk of Colorectal Cancer?

Highlights

Unhealthy diet and stress levels can exacerbate the release of endotoxins in the blood that trigger inflammation and could be a precursor to colorectal cancer. A clinical study has shown that consuming polyphenol rich foods such as pomegranate extract can help with lowering endotoxemia in newly diagnosed colorectal cancer patients and could be potentially beneficial for colorectal cancer prevention or reducing colorectal/colon cancer risk.



Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer is a common but treatable cancer of the colon or rectum that affects over 150,000 Americans every year. Like all cancers, the earlier it is detected, the easier it is to treat colorectal cancer and remove it at its source, before it starts spreading to other parts of the body and becoming a difficult to treat aggressive disease.

Pomegranate & Colorectal Cancer Risk

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Pomegranate Extract Intake & Colorectal/Colon Cancer Prevention


In 2018, a study was done by researchers from Spain which attempted to explore for the first time if consumption of pomegranates was able to reduce endotoxemia, that contributes to onset and development of colorectal cancer, in newly diagnosed colorectal cancer patients. But, before we get into the results of this clinical study, let’s first wrap our heads around some of this complicated scientific terminology so as to understand the true significance of the study.


Cancer, by definition, is just a normal cell that has mutated and gone haywire, that causes an unrestricted and mass growth of abnormal cells that could potentially metastasize or spread throughout the body. However, there are a lot of other complicated factors that could either lead to or aid the growth of these rapidly reproducing cancerous cells. In colorectal cancer, one of those factors which plays a significant role in causing a multitude of other health problems as well is metabolic endotoxemia. In the colon, or gut of our bodies, there are bacterial cells known as gut bacteria that are there to aid in digestion. These gut bacteria are essentially there to take care of any leftover food that wasn’t able to get digested by the stomach and small intestine. Endotoxins are the components of the bacterial cell walls made of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) that get released into the blood. Now, in most healthy people, the LPSs just stay inside the gut linings and everything is good. However, a constant unhealthy diet and/or stress can cause leaks in the gut lining and release endotoxins into the bloodstream, an excess of which, is known as metabolic endotoxemia. And the reason why this is so dangerous is because endotoxins activate certain inflammatory proteins which then potentially lead to a range of health problems such as cardiovascular conditions, diabetes or even colorectal cancer.

Science of Right Personalized Nutrition for Cancer

Back to the study, knowing the problems that metabolic endotoxemia can cause, there has been an increased interest in finding ways to potentially decrease the amount of endotoxins in the blood. It has been studied that foods rich in polyphenol such as red wine, cranberries and pomegranates, do have the power to reduce LPS levels in blood, which is why the researchers conducted their tests using pomegranate extract and how this would specifically affect patients with colorectal cancer. A randomized controlled trial was conducted through a hospital in Murcia, Spain, and it was found that there was a “reduction of plasma lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP) levels, that is a valid surrogate biomarker of metabolic endotoxemia, after pomegranate extract consumption in patients with newly diagnosed CRC.” (González-Sarrías et al, Food and Function 2018 ).

Conclusion


In summary, this pioneer study does show that polyphenol rich foods like pomegranate have the potential to reduce potentially harmful endotoxin levels in the blood that could benefit all individuals, especially those newly diagnosed with colorectal cancer and may help in colorectal cancer prevention or reducing colorectal cancer risk. Therefore, if you have been diagnosed with colorectal/colon cancer, or diabetes, or fall in the obese category, it wouldn’t hurt to consume an increased number of polyphenol rich foods such as pomegranates, cranberries, apples, vegetables, and red wine.

What food you eat and which supplements you take is a decision you make. Your decision should include consideration of the cancer gene mutations, which cancer, ongoing treatments and supplements, any allergies, lifestyle information, weight, height and habits.

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Scientifically Reviewed by: Dr. Cogle

Christopher R. Cogle, M.D. is a tenured professor at the University of Florida, Chief Medical Officer of Florida Medicaid, and Director of the Florida Health Policy Leadership Academy at the Bob Graham Center for Public Service.

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