LAUSR

BACKGROUND The effect of pomegranate juice on type 2 diabetic conditions has been determined in various occasions. However, such effect on cortisol and thyroxine hormones, which are major controllers of energy metabolism, is not yet revealed. OBJECTIVES In this study, we intended to measure the short-term effect of fresh pomegranate juice on serum cortisol and thyroxine in patients with type 2 diabetes. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study is a randomized clinical trial in which 89 patients with type 2 diabetes were supplemented with fresh pomegranate juice at a dose of 1.5 mL kg-1. Blood specimens were then collected before and at 1 and 3 hours after the juice administration. Serum cortisol and thyroxine were assessed using commercial chemiluminescent-immunoassay kits. RESULTS Serum cortisol, but not thyroxine, was significantly (P < 0.0001) lower in patients with type 2 diabetes after ingesting fresh pomegranate juice. In addition, no significant correlation (r2 = 0.00003, P = 0.9569) was observed between cortisol response to fresh pomegranate juice and the level of fasting serum glucose in the recruited patients. Moreover, no significant difference (P = 0.9118) in cortisol response to fresh pomegranate juice was found between recruited males and females. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, fresh pomegranate juice decreased serum cortisol, 1 hour after the juice ingestion, but not serum thyroxine 3 hours after the juice ingestion, in patients with type 2 diabetes. In addition, cortisol response to fresh pomegranate juice was found not to be affected by patients' gender and the level of fasting serum glucose.