Pomegranate juice and superoxide dismutase for CHD?

[Guest guest]

My father sent me an article from the Life Extension site

(http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2007/jul2007_report_atherosclerosis_01.htm)

which

claims that pomegranate juice (PJ) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) have been

shown to be

effective in reversing atherosclerosis.

The major study on SOD they reference is from the European Journal of Allergy

and Clinical

Immunology which I have never heard of. Here's the link

(http://www.renerhealth.com/Shared/Sites/renerhealth/Assets/Your%20Files/Industr\

y%20

News/0704%20Article%20for%20rep%20deal%20web.pdf).

From the LEF article:

" In a groundbreaking new study, investigators led by Professor Maurice Cloarec

from the

French National Association for Medical Prevention showed that oral

supplementation with

GliSODin® was associated with regression of atherosclerosis in middle-aged

adults (ages

30-60), as determined by ultrasonography. This finding is especially exciting,

in that

atherosclerosis progression was not slowed, nor halted, but rather that it was

actually

reversed. "

The article goes on to suggest that pomegranate juice (PJ) has also been shown

to reduce

intima media thickness (IMT). I checked the citations and read one full-text

and several

abstracts. Some clips:

" PJ consumption resulted in a signi & #64257;cant IMT reduction, by up to 30%,

after 1 year. "

" The phytochemistry and pharmacological actions of all Punica granatum

components

suggest a wide range of clinical applications for the treatment and prevention

of cancer,

as well as other diseases where chronic inflammation is believed to play an

essential

etiologic role. "

" This study indicates that the proatherogenic effects induced by perturbed shear

stress

can be also reversed by chronic administration of PFE. "

" PJ supplementation to mice with advanced atherosclerosis reduced their

macrophage

oxidative stress, their macrophage cholesterol flux and even attenuated the

development

of atherosclerosis. Moreover, a tannin-fraction isolated from PJ had a

significant

antiatherosclerotic activity. "

" We conclude that PJ-mediated suppression of Ox-LDL degradation and of

cholesterol

biosynthesis in macrophages can lead to reduced cellular cholesterol

accumulation and

foam cell formation. "

In light of the recent JAMA analysis indicating that antioxidants increase

mortality in CVD

patients, I'm more skeptical of these claims. Has anyone investigated the

research on SOD

(GliSODin in particular - that's the oral form that was studied) and PJ?