Pomegranate Compound Urolithin A Shows Potential for Heart Failure Treatment

Researchers at King's College London have identified that urolithin A, a natural metabolite produced by gut bacteria after consuming pomegranates, may offer a new therapeutic pathway for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). The study, published in Science Advances and supported by the British Heart Foundation, demonstrated that the compound improved heart function by up to 80 percent in mouse models with stiff, failing hearts.

Because the heart continues to pump normally but becomes stiff and does not fill properly, standard treatments are less effective.

Urolithin A treatment produced up to an 80 percent improvement in heart function measures in diseased animal models compared with untreated controls, alongside significant reductions in cardiac fibrosis.

Mechanism of Action

HFpEF is a complex condition where the heart maintains its pumping strength but becomes too stiff to relax properly between beats, leading to pressure buildup and fluid retention. In the study, urolithin A was found to reduce cardiac scarring and assist the heart in relaxing between contractions. Researchers believe the metabolite activates a protein known as PKGIα, which is crucial for lowering blood pressure and facilitating cardiac relaxation. According to ScienceDaily, tests on lab-grown human heart tissue confirmed that the compound improved both contraction and relaxation kinetics.

Clinical Outlook and Limitations

While the results are promising, experts emphasize that the findings are currently limited to animal models and engineered human tissue. Cardiovascular scientist Joseph Burgoyne, the study's senior author, noted that while the research identifies a new therapeutic target, there is currently insufficient evidence to suggest that consuming pomegranates alone can treat heart failure. Furthermore, the study focused exclusively on male mice, leaving questions about potential sex-dependent differences in response to the treatment. Future randomized controlled trials involving diverse human cohorts are required to determine if urolithin A can effectively improve clinical outcomes for patients living with HFpEF.

Clinical trials involving people are needed to test whether the approach is effective for patients.