Pomegranate juice may reduce birth defect

ST. LOUIS, Jun 28, 2005 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- A U.S. study finds that drinking pomegranate juice may reduce the severity of some brain injuries associated with premature births.

Researchers at the Washington University School of Medicine mimicked hypoxic ischemic birth defects in mice by temporarily lowering brain oxygen and blood flow in the newborns.

They found that newborn mice whose mothers had been given water mixed with pomegranate concentrate lost 60 percent less brain tissue than those whose mothers had drunk sugar water.

Hypoxic ischemic defects occur in about two of every 1,000 births. But they are very common when babies are born prematurely, especially before 34 weeks gestation.

Pomegranates, like grapes, red wine and berries, contain high levels of polyphenols, which have anti-aging and neuroprotective effects.

The study was published in the June issue of Pediatric Research and was done in collaboration with POM Wonderful, a company that makes pomegranate juice.