Pomegranates Could Unlock a New Treatment for Heart Failure

Key Points:

• A compound called urolithin A, produced in the body after consuming foods like pomegranates, walnuts, and berries, improved heart function by up to 80% in experimental models of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), a condition with limited treatment options.
• Researchers at King’s College London found that urolithin A activates the protein PKGIα, enhancing heart muscle relaxation, reducing scarring, and limiting harmful enlargement of heart cells in animal models and engineered human heart tissue.
• HFpEF affects about half of all heart failure cases in the UK and is challenging to treat because the heart pumps normally but struggles to relax and fill properly, with current treatments focusing mainly on managing underlying conditions.
• While urolithin A has shown a favorable safety profile in previous human studies, clinical trials are still needed to confirm its effectiveness as a treatment for HFpEF in patients.
• Experts emphasize that although these findings are promising, a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables remains essential for heart health, and no single food or compound can currently prevent or treat heart failure on its own.