DOES POMEGRANATE CONSUMPTION AFFECT WEIGHT AND BODY COMPOSITION A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS OF RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED CLINICAL TRIALS

Background and Aim: Pomegranate is rich in tannins, polyphenols, flavonoids and several other types of antioxidant compounds that their role in weight loss has been shown in previous studies. Therefore, pomegranate may affect anthropometric parameters; however, the results of published studies are conflicting. To assess the effect of pomegranate consumption on body weight and composition.Methods: Electronic databases such as PubMed, Scopus, ISI Web of Science, and Google Scholar were systematically searched up to May 2018 with no language, gender or time restriction. The weighted mean difference (WMD) was used as effect size. A random effect meta-analysis was performed using the STATA software, version 11.2. The quality of included studies was assessed by Cochrane Collaboration s tool.Results: Thirteen randomized controlled trials (including 513 participants) were included in the present meta-analysis. Compared with the control groups, there was no significant reduction in bodyweight, body mass index, waist circumference, and body fat percentage after pomegranate consumption (WMD = -0.23 kg, 95% CI: -0.94, 0.47, P=0.515;WMD = -0.12 kg/m2, 95% CI = -0.29, 0.03, P=0.132; WMD = -0.08 cm, 95% CI: -0.33, 0.17, P=0.534; WMD = -0.05, 95% CI: -1.66, 1.55, P=0.947, respectively). Subgroup analysis showed that consuming pomegranate less than six weeks significantly decreased body fat percentage (WMD = -1.15, 95% CI: -2.15, -0.15, P=0.023).Conclusion: Pomegranate consumption can be efficient in terms of body fat percentage reduction, but there is insufficient evidence to support its beneficial effects on other body composition indices.

Keywords:

Pomegranate , Punicaceae , Body Weight , Systematic Review , Meta-Analysis