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Research Project: Prevention of Obesity Related Metabolic Diseases by Bioactive Components of Food Processing Waste Byproducts and Mitigation of Food Allergies

Location: Healthy Processed Foods Research

Title: Pomegranate peel powder and extract improved weight control, lipid metabolism and gut microbiota in hamsters fed with standard american diets

Author
item WU, XINGZHU - University Of California, Davis
item Yokoyama, Wallace
item TAN, YUQING - China Agricultural University
item Bartley, Glenn
item Chen, Ling Xin
item Pan, James
item Alves Buongiorno, Priscila
item Berrios, Jose
item McHugh, Tara
item PAN, ZHONGLI - University Of California, Davis

Submitted to: Food Hydrocolloids for Health
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/16/2025
Publication Date: 1/16/2025
Citation: Wu, X., Yokoyama, W.H., Tan, Y., Bartley, G.E., Chen, L., Pan, J., Alves Buongiorno, P.L., Berrios, J.D., Mchugh, T.H., Pan, Z. 2025. Pomegranate peel powder and extract improved weight control, lipid metabolism and gut microbiota in hamsters fed with standard american diets. Food Hydrocolloids for Health. 7. Article 100196. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fhfh.2025.100196.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fhfh.2025.100196

Interpretive Summary: Pomegranate juice production generates large amounts of peel byproduct (PPP). We evaluated the health promoting potential of the PPP as well as its extract (PPE) in a hamster model of hypercholesterolemia. Supplementation of 10% PPP reduced liver weight, fasting blood glucose and liver and fecal lipids. Low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol was reduced. Gut bacteria of the PPP supplemented animals suggested a healthier profile.

Technical Abstract: Pomegranate peel, a byproduct of juice processing, is underutilized. It is used as animal feed or discarded in landfills causing environmental pollution. However, its high dietary fiber content and unique polyphenol profile suggest it may be an excellent ingredient source of weight and cholesterol control. This study aimed to investigate the hypolipidemic effects of pomegranate peel powder (PPP) and extract (PPE) in Golden Syrian hamsters fed high-fat (HF) diets. HF (20%) diets were supplemented with freeze-dried 5% or 10% PPP, and 2.5% or 5% PPE. Hamsters gained 16.10 g to 33.82 g of weight and the feeding efficacy was from 0.10 to 0.18 after 4 weeks of feeding. The 10% PPP group had the lowest weight gain and feed efficacy while others were not significantly different, indicating the 10% peel might reduce caloric intake or increase metabolism. The liver-to-body weight ratio, fasting blood glucose, hepatic lipid, and fecal lipid of the 10% PPP group were significantly lower than the epidydimal adipose ratio of the HF group. PPP ingestion significantly increased LDL but decreased triglycerides. PPP and PPE feeding resulted in microbiota phyla Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidetes ratio characteristic of leaner phenotypes. HMG-CoAR and LDLR expression was reduced, suggesting that decreased uptake of LDL was not sufficient even with reduced cholesterol synthesis to lower plasma LDL.