Skip to content

Exploring Unconventional Plant-Derived Metabolites for Glycemic Control: the Case of Pomegranate

Exploring Unconventional Plant-Derived Metabolites for Glycemic Control: the Case of Pomegranate

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06659523
Acronym
EXPLORER
Enrollment
60
Registered
2024-10-26
Start date
2024-06-01
Completion date
2024-09-30
Last updated
2024-10-29

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Prediabetes

Keywords

prediabetes, Food supplement, beta-cell function, IAPP, Urolithins

Brief summary

The EXPLORER study will investigate whether supplementation with a pomegranate extract rich in ellagitannins is able to improve well-being and metabolic health in individuals without diabetes. The aim is to establish for the first time an association between the intake of ellagitanninsa and glycaemic control, the processing/aggregation of IAPP (a protein associated with diabetes), the state of the intestinal microbiota and circulating levels of urolithin B (a small bioavailable molecule resulting from the metabolism of ellagitannins). This is a 12-week pilot study that is double-blind (neither participants nor researchers know who gets the treatment) and placebo-controlled (some people will receive a non-active substance). It will involve volunteers who do not have diabetes. Phase 1 - Recruitment: Volunteers without diabetes, who are patients at a family health unit, will be recruited. Participants will provide informed consent and information such as sociodemographic and biochemical data. Phase 2 - Intervention: The recruited individuals will be divided into two groups: one receiving the pomegranate extract supplement (intervention group) and the other receiving a placebo. In total, 60 participants will take part in the study.

Detailed description

A double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled pilot study was designed to assess the effect of Ellagitannins Pomegranate Supplements (EPS) in metabolic health of participants. Participants will be recruited at the family health unit USF São Martinho de Alcabideche from the grouping of health centres ACES Cascais, and the study will be conducted according to universal bioethical principles. At least 60 individuals with pre-diabetes will be included in the study. After the fulfilment of the inclusion criteria, they will be randomly assigned to the intervention group (IG) and the placebo group (PG). Equal distribution of gender, age and BMI will be ensured between the groups.

Interventions

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTEPS supplement intervention

31 healthy individuals, male and female, were recruted at one family health unit, and randomly assigned to the intervention group, and were given for 12 weeks of one daily dose of 1.5 g powdered capsules of EPS.

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTPlacebo

29 healthy individuals, male and female, were recruted at one family health unit, and randomly assigned to the placebo group, and were given for 12 weeks of one daily dose of placebo.

Sponsors

Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias
CollaboratorUNKNOWN
Regina Menezes
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Investigator)

Intervention model description

Double-blind, placebo-controlled study

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* Individuals without diabetes * Both sexes * Aged between 18 and 65 * Body Mass Index (BMI) less than 29.9 kg/m2 * Fasting plasma glucose levels below 126 mg/dL * Haemoglobin A1C levels between 5.7 - 6.5%

Exclusion criteria

* Not agreeing to take part in the study * BMI\>30 kg/m2 * Being diagnosed with diabetes * Having any type of cognitive disorder * Using anti-diabetic medication * Alcohol or drug abuse * Pomegranate allergy * Regular use of food supplements * Difficulty swallowing tablets * Being on, or planning to be on during the study period, a different diet than usual * Pregnancy, planning to become pregnant during the study, breastfeeding 1 year before or during the study * Oncological, cardiac, hepatic, renal, thyroid or other endocrine diseases * Medical or social conditions that may affect adherence * Participating in another study at the same time.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Targeted metabolites - urolithins profiling12 weeksUrine sample
pro-IAPP12 weeksBlood sample
IAPP (Islet Amiloide Polipeptide)12 weeksBoold sample

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Short-chain fatty acids profiling12 weeksBlood sample

Countries

Portugal

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026