Effects of Pomegranate Juice on Ulcerative Colitis

Exclusion Criteria

• •• Non-English speaker
• •* Vegetarian/vegan
• •* Known pomegranate allergy
• •* Documented chronic disease besides UC, including diabetes, renal or liver diseases, metabolic syndrome, active cancer, MI or stroke, history of gastric bypass
• •* Patients with CD, indeterminate/severe to fulminant colitis
• •* History of colectomy or colonic dysplasia
• •* Presence of ileal pouch or ostomy
• •* Evidence of active bacterial or viral gastroenteritis as indicated by positive stool studies for ova \& parasites, Clostridium difficile, and stool culture
• •* Recent hospitalizations (within 2 weeks of screening) for UC requiring IV steroids
• •* Presence of the following labs indicative of severe colitis: a. Hemoglobin \< 8.0 g/dl b. Albumin \< 3.0 g/dl
• •* Recent systemic antibiotics use (within 3 months of screening) or active use of anti-diarrheal medications
• •* Taking supplements known to affect metabolism or gut microbiota composition (probiotics, fiber, etc.), unless willing to stop for the study duration
• •* Use of Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN)
• •* Use of cyclosporine, tacrolimus, or thalidomide within 2 months prior to screening
• •* Taking exogenous hormones (e.g., hormone replacement therapy)
• •* Recent weight fluctuations (\>10% in the last 6 months)
• •* Smoker or living with a smoker
• •* Use of \>20 g of alcohol per day
• •* Unable or unwilling to comply with the study protocol (including unwillingness to avoid watermelon and other lycopene-rich foods for the whole duration of the study)
• •* Unable to provide consent