Do different urolithin metabotypes (UM-A, UM-B, UM-0) influence the effects of pomegranate extract (PE) consumption on cardiovascular risk biomarkers in healthy overweight-obese individuals?
Pomegranate Ellagitannin Extract, a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (Mol Nutr Food Res 2017, PMID 27879044) — after dose-2, UM-B subjects showed significant dose-dependent decreases in total cholesterol (-15.5%), LDL-cholesterol (-14.9%), small LDL-cholesterol (-47%), non-HDL-cholesterol (-11.3%), apolipoprotein-B (-12%), and oxidized LDL-cholesterol (-24%). The abstract for Pomegranate Ellagitannin Extract states no limitations.
Source: Mol Nutr Food Res 2017, PMID 27879044 ↗ · Research map · How Magellan grades evidence · evidence confidence: medium
Mol Nutr Food Res · 2017 · PMID 27879044 · DOI 10.1002/mnfr.201600830
Pomegranate extract significantly improved several cardiovascular risk biomarkers, but only in individuals with the UM-B urolithin metabotype.
The question
Do different urolithin metabotypes (UM-A, UM-B, UM-0) influence the effects of pomegranate extract (PE) consumption on cardiovascular risk biomarkers in healthy overweight-obese individuals?
What they tested
The study hypothesized that interindividual variability in ellagitannin metabolism, specifically urolithin metabotypes, might explain the controversial lipid-lowering properties of pomegranate.
How they did it
A double-blind, crossover, dose-response, randomized, placebo-controlled trial (POMEcardio) was conducted with 49 healthy overweight-obese participants (BMI > 27 kg/m). Participants consumed either one (dose-1, 160 mg phenolics/day) or four (dose-2, 640 mg phenolics/day) PE capsules or placebo daily for two 3-week test phases, separated by a 3-week washout period. Eighteen cardiovascular risk biomarkers were measured.
What they found
UM-B individuals had the highest baseline cardiovascular risk. After dose-2, UM-B subjects showed significant dose-dependent decreases in total cholesterol (-15.5%), LDL-cholesterol (-14.9%), small LDL-cholesterol (-47%), non-HDL-cholesterol (-11.3%), apolipoprotein-B (-12%), and oxidized LDL-cholesterol (-24%). These effects were partially correlated with urolithin production and increased Gordonibacter levels. Three (50%) UM-0 individuals became urolithin producers after PE consumption.
| Total Cholesterol | -15.5 | |
|---|---|---|
| LDL-cholesterol | -14.9 | |
| Small LDL-cholesterol | -47 | |
| Non-HDL-cholesterol | -11.3 | |
| Apolipoprotein-B | -12 | |
| Oxidized LDL-cholesterol | -24 |
After consuming the higher dose (640 mg phenolics/day) of pomegranate extract, individuals with the UM-B metabotype experienced notable percentage decreases in several cardiovascular risk biomarkers.
What it means
Urolithin metabotype clustering suggests a personalized effect of ellagitannin-containing foods like pomegranate extract on cardiovascular risk biomarkers, particularly in UM-B individuals. This personalized effect may explain the previously controversial benefits of pomegranate.
Limitations
The abstract does not explicitly state limitations, but it does suggest that further research is needed on the specific role of urolithins and the microbiota associated with each urolithin metabotype.
Where the published abstract does not list limitations, we say so rather than inventing them. Read the full paper on PubMed before drawing conclusions.
The paper at a glance
| Title | Clustering according to urolithin metabotype explains variability in cardiovascular risk biomarkers in individuals consuming pomegranate: a randomized clinical trial |
|---|---|
| Journal | Mol Nutr Food Res |
| Year | 2017 |
| PMID | 27879044 ↗ |
| DOI | 10.1002/mnfr.201600830 ↗ |
| Topic | Cardiovascular & vascular aging |
Read the source: PubMed record (authors, abstract, full citation) ↗ · Publisher via doi.org ↗
Where Magellan uses this paper
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Pomegranate Ellagitannin Extract
In human research, the ellagitannin-derived metabolite urolithin A has improved muscle strength, endurance, and biomarkers of mitochondrial function and inflammation in randomized trials of middle-aged and older adults, and a small 2025 trial found more youthful immune-cell profiles after four weeks, although several…
Pomegranate ellagitannin extract is a concentrated source of ellagitannins (such as punicalagins) and…
Research describes the compound or intervention studied. It is not a claim about any specific product.
Molecules & mechanisms in this paper
Each of these is named in the paper’s own words above. Open the monograph for the full mechanism and its other citations.
Cite this page
These citations point at this summary. To cite the original paper with its full author list, use the PubMed record or doi.org.
Magellan Longevity. (2026). Do different urolithin metabotypes (UM-A, UM-B, UM-0) influence the effects of pomegranate extract (PE) consumption on cardiovascular risk biomarkers in healthy overweight-obese individuals? [Plain-English summary of Mol Nutr Food Res 2017, PMID 27879044, DOI 10.1002/mnfr.201600830]. Magellan Longevity. https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d27879044.html@misc{magellan_d27879044,
title = {Do different urolithin metabotypes (UM-A, UM-B, UM-0) influence the effects of pomegranate extract (PE) consumption on cardiovascular risk biomarkers in healthy overweight-obese individuals?},
author = {{Magellan Longevity}},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {\url{https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d27879044.html}},
note = {Plain-English summary of PubMed PMID 27879044; DOI 10.1002/mnfr.201600830; Mol Nutr Food Res 2017. Reviewed by Gabriel Radu, DO},
urldate = {2026-08-11}
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