Euromed Study reports skin health benefits of pomegranate extract in Spain

SPAIN—A clinical trial conducted in Spain has found that Euromed’s Pomanox® pomegranate extract may support skin pigmentation, hydration and elasticity, expanding research into oral supplements for skin health and beauty-from-within products.

The 12-week POMASKIN™ study, conducted at Eurecat’s Nutrition and Health Unit in Reus, examined the effects of daily pomegranate extract supplementation in women with facial hyperpigmentation.

Researchers observed changes in pigmentation after four weeks, while additional findings highlighted potential effects on skin hydration and elasticity.

Clinical trial findings

The randomised, triple-blind, placebo-controlled trial enrolled 66 women aged 30 to 65 with hyperpigmented facial spots.

Participants received 367 mg or 700 mg of Pomanox® daily, or a placebo, for 12 weeks. Researchers included 64 participants in the modified intention-to-treat analysis.

Exploratory analyses of the 367mg daily group showed favourable changes in two pigmentation measures compared with placebo: pigmentation in a selected facial spot and the melanin index of the surrounding skin.

Differences emerged after four weeks, and the favourable change in surrounding skin pigmentation persisted through week 12.

At the end of the study, the selected spot also showed a greater reduction in melanin index than in the placebo group.

Skin hydration improved significantly with 367 mg daily compared with placebo at week 12.

While hydration declined in the placebo group, the findings suggest that supplementation may help maintain skin moisture under the study conditions.

Elasticity measurements also improved from baseline.

The 700 mg group showed significant changes at weeks four and 12, and the 367 mg group at week 12.

Across the full study population, the comparison between 700 mg daily and placebo indicated a trend towards improved elasticity.

Antioxidant activity and microbiome research

Researchers assessed antioxidant-related markers and polyphenol metabolism to investigate possible biological mechanisms behind the skin findings.

At week 12, the 367 mg group showed non-significant trends towards higher glutathione levels than placebo and higher superoxide dismutase levels than baseline.

Further studies are needed to establish the significance of these observations.

Urinary polyphenol metabolites, including urolithin A glucuronide, increased in both supplementation groups, indicating that participants absorbed and metabolised compounds from the extract.

Exploratory microbiome analyses identified nominal increases in Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus in the skin microbiota.

Previous research has associated both bacterial genera with protective skin mechanisms.

The gut microbiota also changed, with Prevotella increasing in both Pomanox® groups.

 Akkermansia showed a nominal increase in the 367mg group compared with placebo.

These findings provide areas for further investigation into interactions between pomegranate polyphenols, the skin microbiome and gut health.

However, the study did not establish effects on skin barrier function or inflammation.

Implications for skin care formulations

The study builds on earlier laboratory research by Roger Mariné-Casadó and colleagues at Eurecat.

Those studies indicated that Pomanox® could influence collagen and hyaluronic acid metabolism, reduce reactive oxygen species in ultraviolet-exposed human fibroblasts and inhibit tyrosinase, an enzyme involved in melanin production.

Previous human trials have investigated the extract in exercise, cognitive performance, cardiovascular health and inflammatory markers.

The skin study extends this research into the nutricosmetics sector, where manufacturers are exploring ingestible ingredients for beauty-from-within formulations.

“POMASKIN™ adds an exciting clinical dimension to the Pomanox® research programme,” said Andrea Zangara, scientific communication advisor at Euromed.

He said the findings could inform formulation development and further clinical investigation.

Pomanox® P30 contains at least 30% punicalagins and is manufactured using Euromed’s proprietary water-based Pure-Hydro Process®.

The company uses this standardised extract in its botanical ingredient portfolio for applications in health and nutrition products.

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