The Impact of Pomegranate Extract on Chronic Cardiomyopathy Complicated by Renal Insufficiency (ImPrOVE): a Pilot Study

Heart failure (HF) is a disease of great prevalence in the U.S. with an associated high morbidity and mortality. In individuals with concomitant chronic renal insufficiency (CRI), outcomes are even worse due to pharmaceutical under treatment and higher baseline levels of oxidative stress. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are generated during mechanoenergetic uncoupling and can cause myocardial protein, lipid, and DNA damage, leading to the development of HF. One means of preventing the progression of HF may be through ROS reduction or an improvement in systemic or local oxidative stress handling. In this randomized, single blind placebo-controlled pilot study, we hypothesize that 12 weeks of treatment with oral pomegranate extract (POMx) will lead to a reduction in oxidative stress (as assessed by measuring thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, F8-isoprostanes, and glutathione) in subjects (n=30) with cardiomyopathy (LVEF ≤40%) and CRI (GFR \<60 ml/hr). Secondary aims include assessing the impact of POMx on myocardial remodeling and endothelial dysfunction by measuring serum collagen levels and asymmetric dimethylarginine, respectively. Findings from this study will serve as pilot data for a larger randomized trial of longer term POMx therapy in subjects with cardiomyopathy.