Journal of Nutrition,Fasting and Health

Journal of Nutrition,Fasting and Health

Impact of Pomegranate Juice (Punica granatum) on the Severity of Allergic Rhinitis: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Mina Shekari 1
Farahzad Jabbari-Azad 2
Maral Barzegar-Amini 2
Maryam Akaberi 3
Mehdi Bakhshaee 1
1 Sinus and Surgical Endoscopic Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
2 Allery Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad Iran
3 Department of Pharmacognosy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
10.22038/jnfh.2026.95715.1629
Abstract
Introduction: Punica granatum (pomegranate) possesses well-documented antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and has demonstrated therapeutic potential in several metabolic and inflammatory disorders. However, evidence regarding its effectiveness in the management of allergic rhinitis remains limited. This randomized controlled trial evaluated the effects of concentrated pomegranate juice as an adjunct to conventional therapy on clinical symptoms and quality of life in patients with allergic rhinitis.
Methods: Sixty patients with clinically confirmed allergic rhinitis were randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a control group using a randomization table. Baseline demographic characteristics, symptom severity, and health-related quality of life were assessed before treatment. Participants in the intervention group received 50 mL/day of concentrated pomegranate juice in addition to standard medical therapy, whereas those in the control group received standard therapy alone for two months. The primary endpoint was the change in the total Sino-Nasal Outcome Test-22 (SNOT-22) score from baseline to the end of the intervention.
Results: The mean age of participants was 28.9 years in the intervention group and 31.4 years in the control group, and half of the study population was male. Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics were comparable between the two groups, with atopic dermatitis representing the most frequently reported comorbidity. Clinical symptoms improved over the two-month treatment period in both groups; however, the magnitude of improvement did not differ significantly between groups. Similarly, reductions in SNOT-22 scores were observed in both groups without a statistically significant advantage for adjunctive pomegranate supplementation.
Conclusion: The addition of concentrated pomegranate juice to standard pharmacological treatment was associated with improvements in allergic rhinitis symptoms over time, but these improvements were comparable to those achieved with conventional therapy alone. These findings do not support a significant additional therapeutic effect of pomegranate juice in this patient population. Future large-scale, placebo-controlled studies with adequate statistical power are warranted to further investigate its potential role in the management of allergic rhinitis.
Keywords
Pomegranate Juice
Allergic Rhinitis
Quality of Life
Subjects
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Journal of Nutrition,Fasting and Health

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 11 October 2026

  • Receive Date 16 May 2026
  • Revise Date 08 July 2026
  • Accept Date 28 September 2026