The Effects of Using Pomegranate (Punica granatum) Seed Powder on Quality Parameters of Model System Chicken Meat Emulsions

This study aimed to investigate the effects of using 1%, 3% and 5% pomegranate seed powder (PSP) on model system chicken meat emulsion (CME) quality parameters. For this purpose, the properties of the emulsion samples prepared using different amounts of PSP were compared with the control group prepared with 70% chicken breast meat, 18% chicken skin, 10% water, 1.5% salt and 0.5% sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP). Chemical composition, pH, emulsion stability, water holding capacity, cooking yield, and color were analyzed in emulsion samples. TBARs and peroxide values of the samples were determined on days 0, 3, 5 and 7 during storage. Use of pomegranate seed powder in emulsion formulation resulted a decrease in b* and a* values. At the same time, with the addition of pomegranate seed powder, there was no difference in the protein values of the raw samples and the moisture, ash and pH values of the cooked samples. It was also observed that pH values, water holding capacity and cooking efficiency of emulsions increased with the increasing levels of PSP. Both peroxide and TBARs values were lower in emulsion samples formulated with PSP on 7 d compared to the control group.

Efficacy of Pomegranate Seed Powder on Glucose and Lipid Metabolism in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Prospective Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Pomegranate is known as a functional food which has multiple health-promoting activities. It has been assessed for patients with metabolic syndrome. Specifically, an antidiabetic activity of its juice and plausible mechanisms for its action have been shown in multitudinous studies. The aim of this study was assessing the effects of complementary treatment with pomegranate seed powder (PSP) oral supplementation on patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Sixty patients were treated for 8 weeks by 5 g PSP or placebo, twice daily. Fasting blood glucose (FBG), glycated hemoglobin (HbA_1c), total cholesterol, and triglyceride (TG) were recorded as the outcome measures at the beginning and after the intervention. The findings were analyzed using the independent <i>t</i> test and Mann-Whitney U test. <b><i>Results:</i></b> After 8 weeks, the mean differences of FBG, HbA_1c, cholesterol, and TG were significantly decreased in the PSP group when compared with the placebo group (<i>p</i> value &#x3c;0.05). In addition, post-intervention values of FBG and HbA_1c were significantly lower in patients treated with PSP compared to the placebo group (<i>p</i> values = 0.02 and 0.01, respectively). However, the latter comparison regarding cholesterol and TG showed no significant differences (<i>p</i> values = 0.51 and 0.26, respectively). <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> It seems that complementary treatment with PSP may have beneficial effects on FBG and HbA_1c of patients with T2DM. However, its effect on TG and cholesterol was equivocal.