Researchers at the Washington University School of Medicine mimicked hypoxic ischemic birth defects in mice by temporarily lowering brain oxygen and blood flow in the newborns.
As a result, they found that newborn mice whose mothers had been given water mixed with pomegranate concentrate lost 60-percent less brain tissue than those whose mothers had been given sugar water.
Hypoxic ischemic defects occur in about two of every 1,000 births - more common in babies born prematurely.
Pomegranates, like grapes, red wine and berries, contain high levels of polyphenols, which have anti-aging and neuroprotective effects.
The study was published in the June issue of Pediatric Research and was done in collaboration with POM Wonderful, a company that makes pomegranate juice.
