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Professor Michael  Aviram, DSc
Different fruits and vegetables contain different types of antioxidants (e.g., vitamin E, vitamin C, beta Carotene, Lycopene, as well as polyphenols such as tannins, anthocyanins, flavonoids and phenolic acids). Although they all share the same name (Antioxidants), they are very different in structure and functions, and they interact with different types of free radicals that induce oxidative stress in the human body. Pomegranates contain several antioxidant molecules ,mainly ellagitannin polyphenols (such as punicalagin), and their derivatives and metabolites that can protect against all types of oxidants, not just against only one. The combination of the multiple types of pomegranate polyphenols makes their antioxidant activity better than other antioxidants by having a much wider spectrum of action against several types (and not only one type) of free radicals.
Thus, pomegranates are superior to other antioxidants in protecting LDL (“the bad cholesterol”) from oxidation (Aviram, Am Clin Nutr, 2000), and as a result, it inhibits atherosclerosis development, even in humans (Aviram, Clin  Nutr , 2004), as well as its consequent cardiovascular events better than any other nutritional antioxidant. Pomegranate antioxidants are not free, but are attached to the pomegranate sugar molecules, and hence pomegranates are beneficial even in diabetic patients (Aviram, Atherosclerosis, 2006).
Furthermore, pomegranate antioxidants are unique in their ability to increase the activity of the HDL (“the good cholesterol”) – associated paraoxonase 1 (Aviram, JAFC, 2008), which breaks down harmful oxidized lipids in the atherosclerotic plaque.
Finally, the unique antioxidants in pomegranates beneficially affect two additional important atherosclerotic processes by decreasing blood pressure (Aviram, At
Atherosclerosis, 2001), and by attenuating blood clotting (Aviram, AJCN, 2000).
Professor Michael  Aviram, DSc
Head, Lipid Research Laboratory, Technion Faculty of Medicine
Director, Department of Laboratory Medicine,
Rambam Medical Center, Bat – Galim, Haifa, Israel 31096
Bernice R & Joseph Tanenbaum Chair in Preventive Medicine,
Director, Legacy Heritage Clinical Research Institute at Rambam.
