15 Fantabulous Phytos - #4: Ellagic Acid

Tuesday, November 24, 2009  by Melissa Charles
Category: phytonutrients, America's Phytonutrient Report, raspberries, concentrated fruits and vegetables, ellagic acid

Fantabulous Phyto #4: Ellagic Acid

Ellagic Acid is a RED phytonutrient.

How do you pronounce it?
Click here for Merriam-Webster's pronunciation.

What are the best fruit and vegetable sources for Ellagic Acid?
Raspberries, strawberries, cranberries, and pomegranates

What are the health benefits?
Supports DNA health.

Do any Nutrilite products contain Ellagic Acid?
Yes. For example, Nutrilite Concentrated Fruits and Vegetables has the ellagic acid equivalent to 1 1/2 cups of raspberries.

What is America's Phytonutrient Gap for Ellagic Acid?
According to America's Phytonutrient Report the gap is 87%. The graph below shows the percent of Americans, by age group, who have a gap in their Ellagic Acid consumption.

America's Ellagic Acid Gap


Science Buff Section:

Interesting Tips/Facts -

• Plants produce ellagic acid to protect themselves from microbiological infection and pests.
• Besides cranberries, raspberries and pomegranates, walnuts and pecans are good sources of ellagic acid.
• Ellagic acid helps combat oxidation or “the rust” of our cells.
• Of 100 common foods, the USDA ranks raspberries as one of the top 10 in terms of their total antioxidant capacity, which can be attributed in part due to their ellagic acid content.

Research References -

• Falsaperla M, Morgia G, Tartarone A, Ardito R, Romano G. Support ellagic acid therapy in patients with hormone refractory prostate cancer (HRPC) on standard chemotherapy using vinorelbine and estramustine phosphate. Eur Urol. 2005; 47:449-454.
• Pantuck AJ, Leppert JT, Zomorodian N, Aronson W, Hong J, Barnard RJ, Seeram N, Liker H, Wang H, Elashoff R, Heber D, Aviram M, Ignarro L, Belldegrun A. Phase II study of pomegranate juice for men with rising prostate-specific antigen following surgery or radiation for prostate cancer. Clin Cancer Res. 2006;12:4018-4026.
• Aviram M, Rosenblat M, Gaitini D, et al. (June 2004). "Pomegranate juice consumption for 3 years by patients with carotid artery stenosis reduces common carotid intima-media thickness, blood pressure and LDL oxidation". Clin Nutr 23 (3): 423–3.
• Seeram NP, Lee R, Heber D.  Bioavailability of ellagic acid in human plasma after consumption of ellagitannins from pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) juice.  Clin Chim Acta. 2004 Oct;348(1-2):63-8.

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