Dr. Vliet’s Health Tip:From Pomegranate Power to Cardiac Amyloid Clearance: Ellagic Acid’s Breakthrough for “Long COVID”, Vax Injury & Deadly Heart Deposits

Recent reports led me to explore more about polyphenols, a frequent topic of my seminars and health tips.  But I also looked closer at ellagic acid, a specific polyphenol component naturally present in pomegranate, berries, and nuts, some of my favorite foods to eat myself and to recommend for patients. Interest in these foods is nothing new, and they were even featured in HHS Secretary Kennedy’s new food recommendations just released, specifically because their broad-spectrum antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties have so many health benefits.

But I wanted to focus today’s health tip on new evidence of ellagic acid’s mechanisms, preclinical and clinical data, relevant cellular pathways related to symptoms and complications from long COVID and post-COVID vaccine injuries, as well as several important heart complications and other common chronic medical problems.  My Health Tip today provides practical suggestions for your diet and a unique new product for ellagic acid supplementation.

What is Ellagic Acid?

Ellagic acid is a polyphenolic compound structurally notable for its antioxidant potency and anti-inflammatory capacity. Ellagic acid is classified as a dilactone of hexahydroxydiphenic acid, originating from gallic acid via oxidative coupling. Its dietary sources include pomegranate (especially whole fruit, peel-inclusive extracts), cloudberries, cranberries, strawberries, raspberries, walnuts, and pecans. In nature, ellagic acid occurs both in free form and as part of larger ellagitannin molecules, which are hydrolyzed in the gut to release bioactive ellagic acid. This conversion is central to its bioavailability and potential health effects, particularly in the context of viral and inflammatory conditions.

Mechanisms of Action: Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and Anti-Fibrotic Effects

Ellagic acid’s therapeutic potential is due to its ability to modulate oxidative stress, inflammation, and fibrotic processes—pathways implicated in the pathogenesis of long COVID, post-COVID vaccine injury and cardiovascular injuries, including amyloid deposits. Ellagic acid’s actions are multifaceted:

• Antioxidant: It scavenges reactive oxygen species (ROS), replenishes endogenous antioxidants, and reduces oxidative tissue damage—a critical factor in viral illness recovery and organ protection.
• Anti-Inflammatory: Ellagic acid suppresses neutrophil-driven inflammation, limits the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines (e.g., TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β), and dampens the cytokine storm phenomenon seen in severe viral infections and long COVID.
• Anti-Fibrotic: It modulates fibrotic pathways, such as TGF-β1 signaling, reducing extracellular matrix remodeling and hypertrophic scarring, which may be relevant to post-viral cardiomyopathy and protein aggregation disorders, such as amyloidosis.
• Preclinical studies suggest that ellagic acid supports endothelial function by downregulating adhesion molecules like VCAM1 and ICAM1, potentially helping to reduce microvascular injury, including amyloid-like clot formation. Ellagic acid’s actions are compelling, but at this time, most evidence remains theoretical or derived from non-COVID disease models.

Cellular Pathways Modulated by Ellagic Acid in Viral Infections

Ellagic acid primarily targets host cellular pathways rather than directly binding or inactivating viral particles. Key mechanisms include:

• NF-κB Pathway: Inhibition of this central inflammatory cascade reduces transcription of cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), which in turn reduces cytokine storms and systemic inflammation.
• MAPK/AKT1 Pathways: Downregulation of MAPK3, AKT1, and related kinases dampens cell signaling involved in inflammation, leukocyte adhesion, and endothelial dysfunction.
• IRF7 and Other Immune Modulators: Ellagic acid limits vascular permeability, tissue remodeling, and neuroinflammation by interacting with IRF7, VEGFA, and MMPs.
• Antiviral Replication Blockade: Ellagic acid interferes with viral RNA replication via host cell factors, as demonstrated in HRV-4 and PEDV models, and inhibits enzymes like HIV-1 integrase without directly altering viral genomes.

These mechanisms collectively suggest a host-targeted approach that can reduce viral exploitation of cellular machinery, protect against tissue injury, and modulate immune responses relevant to post-viral syndromes.

Ellagic Acid Evidence in Disease Models: Long COVID, Amyloid Microclots, and Cardiomyopathy

Long COVID and COVID Vaccine Injury: Theoretical promise for ellagic acid in long COVID and post-vaccine syndromes stems from its ability to mitigate oxidative stress, reduce inflammation, and inhibit fibrotic remodeling. These benefits target tissue damage that causes fatigue, cognitive impairment, and cardiovascular dysfunction (e.g., amyloid clots, cardiomyopathy).  Direct clinical evidence is still lacking, mainly because doctors are still NOT making the connection between the COVID shots and these clinical problems patients are reporting.

Amyloid Microclots: Most research centers on neurofibrillary pathology in Alzheimer’s disease, where ellagic acid reduces amyloid precursor protein expression and related neurotoxicity.  We don’t yet have specific studies that look at COVID shot caused microclot formation, again because doctors are still NOT making the connection between the COVID shots and these clinical problems.

Cardiomyopathy and Fibrosis: In preclinical models, ellagic acid reduces extracellular matrix remodeling and hypertrophic scarring, suggesting potential to address post-viral cardiac fibrosis and protein aggregation. Its modulation of SARS-CoV-2 proteases and host immune responses supports adjunctive potential, but human trials are still needed.

Cytokine Storm Attenuation: Evidence from in vivo models (malaria and multiple sclerosis) demonstrates that ellagic acid suppresses pro-inflammatory cytokines and restores barrier integrity.  One human trial in MS found decreased levels of IFN-γ and IL-17 in addition to improved clinical scores. These findings are relevant to hyperinflammatory states but have not yet been directly extended to COVID-19 illness or long COVID.

Summary of Key Clinical Trials with Ellagic Acid:

Registered trials have also focused on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and multiple sclerosis, using doses like 180 mg/day of pure ellagic acid for 8 weeks, which showed cytokine modulation and improved lipid profiles. 

More Benefits: Inhibition of the SARS-CoV-2 3CL^pro Main Protease by Plant Polyphenol

Researcher Miha Bahun published a compelling article early into the COVID-19 pandemic on the abundance of polyphenols in edible plants as an inhibitory agent against an important SARS-CoV-2 therapeutic target, the protease 3CL^pro in addition to being critical components of good human nutrition.  The research team applied in-silico molecular docking as well as molecular dynamics supported by in-vitro assays to determine the inhibitory potential of plant polyphenols including quercetin, ellagic acid, curcumin, epigallocatechin gallate and resveratrol. These researchers found evidence for inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 3CL^pro by these natural plant polyphenols with Ellagic acid among the strongest 3CL^pro inhibitor.  That is a powerful potential benefit across many body systems.

Unfortunately, the major long COVID trials (e.g., NCT06928272) only focus on repurposed pharmaceutical products (metformin, fluvoxamine, naltrexone, antiplatelets), and do not include polyphenols such as ellagic acid or pomegranate. I think this is a major deficiency in the research models specifically related to COVID and COVID vax injury.  For that reason, I think the current evidence on ellagic acid illustrates that we have an opportunity to benefit from ellagic acid supplements without the side effects of Rx medicines.  There is very little risk and potential for significant improvement in health and function.

Dietary Sources Comparisons

Ellagic acid is found abundantly in fruits such as pomegranates, raspberries, strawberries, cranberries, and blackberries, as well as nuts (notably walnuts and pecans) and tree bark. In nature, it often exists as ellagitannins, which are hydrolyzed in the gastrointestinal tract to yield free ellagic acid. The bioavailability of ellagic acid is limited by its poor solubility and rapid metabolism, but regular dietary intake through ellagitannin-rich foods approach or a stabilized high-quality supplement, like our TruFruits & Berries™, are two approaches to increase systemic levels.

Highest Ellagic Acid Concentration Sources: Pomegranate and Berries

Pomegranates are the top powerhouse for ellagic acid, especially juice at 811 mg/L, with berries the next most concentrated sources of ellagic acid.  In the berry category, Cloudberries are the highest at 315 mg/100g, then wild strawberries have up to 10 times more ellagic acid than cultivated varieties, followed by raspberries (around 270 mg/100g fresh weight), blackberries, cranberries, Muscadine grapes and boysenberries.

Comparing Pomegranate Sources of Ellagic Acid

Pomegranate juice typically contains more ellagic acid than the edible arils (seeds and juice sacs) of the whole fruit,  primarily because processing methods for the juice incorporate components from the antioxidant-rich pomegranate peel.

• Pure pomegranate juice averages 2-17 mg/100 ml of ellagic acid, with concentrate reaching higher (17.28 mg/100 ml).
• Cold-pressed or whole-fruit juice can deliver higher concentrations (e.g., up to 121 mg/L ellagic acid or 811 mg/L from precursors) compared to the edible arils alone, which have lower free ellagic acid levels.
• Standard commercial juices vary, but those from whole fruit outperform aril-only extracts. For optimal benefit, select cold-pressed juices over clarified varieties to enhance bioavailability.
• The whole fruit arils provide less due to minimal peel inclusion—peel holds most ellagitannins like punicalagin (11-20 g/kg) that hydrolyze to ellagic acid.

Nuts and Fruits

Walnuts contain about 59 mg/100g, pecans around 33 mg/100g.  Chestnuts, grapes, and peaches provide smaller but relevant quantities. For optimal intake, prioritize fresh or minimally processed sources of ellagic acid like berries and nuts.

TruFruits & Berries™: Optimal Bio-availability Plus  Convenience!

Truth for Health’s TruFruits & Berries™ is a proprietary supplement featuring a blend of polyphenol-rich fruit and berry extracts, with pomegranate (Punica granatum) whole fruit extract as the primary source of ellagitannins.  Ellagitannins, particularly punicalagin, are the optimal form efficiently hydrolyzed in the gut to yield ellagic acid and bioactive metabolites (urolithins). Other ingredients—cranberry, grape, blueberry, chokeberry, mangosteen, apple, and bilberry—contribute additional polyphenols, but it is the pomegranate and, to a lesser degree, cranberry that provide significant ellagitannin content.

TruFruits & Berries™ Estimated Ellagitannin by Ingredient

Pomegranate stands out as the dominant ellagitannin source in TruFruits & Berries,™ with content far exceeding cranberry and other fruits. This fits with prior studies showing pomegranate is superior for ellagic acid precursors in whole fruit formulations.

A typical TruFruits & Berries™ dosage is 1 capsule (500 mg blend) twice daily, which is consistent with with dosages used in human studies of pure ellagic acid for cytokine modulation and antioxidant effects.

Ellagitannins are precursors that can release ellagic acid (EA), but the conversion is incomplete since it is influenced by gut microorganism balance, and is also dependent on matrix- and structure of the source, so there is no fixed, reliable “mg ellagitannin = mg pure EA” dosing equivalence. Therefore, labels cannot guarantee translation of ellagitannins into equivalent systemic Ellagic Acid or urolithin exposure for different individuals.

In Summary:

Ellagic acid is a structurally unique polyphenol with significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, that primarily comes from pomegranate, berries, and nuts. Preclinical studies of its activity support many potential health benefits relevant to long COVID, COVID vaccine injury, amyloid clots, and cardiomyopathy.  The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties mainly occur through modulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), cytokines, and pathways that cause fibrosis.  Further research is needed to quantify more specifically ellagic acid’s role in amyloid microclot reduction, long COVID and vaccine injury efficacy, since there are wide variations in individual absorption and utilization.

I remain optimistic, based on the scientific and other clinical data we do have, that these natural treatments for long COVID and post-COVID vaccine injuries have significant enough benefits on the pathways involved in the damage that it makes sense to use them, since side effects are minimal to non-existent –unlike most prescription pharmaceutical products being used in clinical trials.  I take our TruFruits & Berries™ and recommend it to my patients as part of my core “Health and Resilience” crucial supplements for general antioxidant support, anti-inflammatory and promising anti-viral and anti-thrombotic effects.  There is little to lose and much to gain!  For balance, I also include high-quality dietary sources in my own meal plans and recommend those for my patients as well.

Additional resources:
TruFruits & Berries™Product Data Sheet
Fruits and Berries Intake Have a Well-Recognized Correlation with Health

CAUTION: As always, we urge you to avoid supplements without checking knowledgeable sources to evaluate your medical situation, proper lab tests to verify what is needed, and to make sure to avoid adverse interactions with prescription medicines and other supplements you take.

All Truth for Health Foundation Products Meet or Exceed cGMP Quality Standards, the highest quality standard for supplements sold in the USA.  For more information, references from studies are listed in the Product Data Sheets for each product, available on our website.  Under medical practice regulations, we are unable to answer individual medical questions or make specific individual supplement recommendations for people who are not established patients of Dr. Vliet’s independent medical practice.

I encourage you to consider our other natural medicines with our top quality, cGMP-compliant professional formulas: TruMitochondrial™ Boost,  TruNAC™, Tru BioD3, Tru B Complex Full Spectrum, TruZinc™, TruC with BioFlav™ (Vitamin C with complete Bioflavonoids), TruImmune™ Boost, TruImmunoglobulin™, and TruProBiotic™ Daily to replenish critical bifidobacteria depleted by COVID shots, viral illnesses, and antibiotic therapy.

To Your good health and improving resilience!
Elizabeth Lee Vliet, MD

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