When pomegranates meet the artery wall: How gut-derived metabolites may stabilize atherosclerotic plaques

MedicalXpress | avr. 21, 2026

For years, pomegranates have enjoyed a reputation as a "heart-healthy" fruit. As a cardiovascular researcher, I have often been asked a seemingly simple question: If pomegranates are so good for us, how exactly do they work? Our recent study, published in Antioxidants, set out to answer that question—not by focusing on the fruit itself, but by following what happens after the body and, crucially, the gut microbiome gets involved.