Pomegranate vinegar beverage reduces visceral fat accumulation in association with AMPK activation in overweight women: A double-blind, randomized, and placebo-controlled trial

Recent studies on animals have suggested that vinegar consumption may confer an anti-obesity effect through the activation of the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway. However, mechanisms of action in humans remain largely unknown. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was performed to examine whether a pomegranate vinegar (PV) beverage alleviates adiposity in overweight subjects, with emphasis on AMPK activation. Seventy-eight overweight women (BMI >= 25) were randomly assigned to receive either PV (1.5 g acetic acid and 700 mu g ellagic acid/200 mL/day) or a placebo for 8 weeks. The PV reduced visceral adipose tissue, as measured by computed tomography (P = 0.037), and enhanced AMPK phosphorylation (P = 0.013) compared with the placebo group. The PV tended to suppress downstream gene expression, such as that of sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c and acetyl coenzyme carboxylase, in adipose tissue. Together, these data suggest that PV is an excellent AMPK activator and may exert beneficial effects on adiposity. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.