We have put as much information as possible on the website, but we are restricted by MHRA guidelines because Pomi-T® is not classed as a medicinal product (see disclaimer).
This page contains the most frequently asked questions we have received since the launch of Pomi-T®.
Q. What is in Pomi-T ®?
A. A vegetarian capsule containing green tea, pomegranate extract, broccoli and turmeric.
Q. Why was Pomi-T® developed
?
A. It was design by a panel of doctors, scientists and nutritionist lead by an oncologist from Cambridge University UK specifically for a national randomised control trial. As well as their own research the panel looked how the polyphenols within these ingredients could work together to have a synergistic benefits.
Q. Does Pomi-T® contain any additives?
A. There are no preservatives, colours or flavours.
Pomi-T® does not contain sugar unlike pomegranate juice which can contain a lot of sugar.
Q. Are you sure the ingredients are genuine and free from contaminant?
A. Absolutely – the manufacturers have a long and strong history of quality assurance and compliance with international standards. They also do their own in-house analysis of each ingredient looking for purity and authenticity. As Pomi-T ® was designed to be part of a national scientific study this quality assurance even included an mass spectrometry analysis from an independent University.
Q. Are the ingredients organic?
A. These are completely natural products but we cannot claim they are registered with the relevant organic certification bodies within the source countries.
Q. What are the health benefits of polyphenol rich diets?
A. Diets rich in polyphenols, the natural plant-based phytochemicals found in healthy foods, have been linked with lower risks of chronic illnesses such as dementia, high cholesterol, arthritis, heart disease, skin ageing and macular degeneration. Well-conducted population studies have also linked their regular intake with lower risks of many cancers including breast, pancreatic, oesophageal, ovarian, prostate, and skin cancer. The anti-cancer effects of polyphenols, however, do not stop after a diagnosis of cancer. Breast cancer survivors eating polyphenol-rich fruit, vegetables, soy and green tea were found to have lower relapse rates. Individuals with skin cancer, who had a high intake of leafy green vegetables and broccoli, had lower rates of new cancer formation. A healthy lifestyle including a polyphenol rich diet has been linked to a slower rate of PSA progression among men with indolent prostate cancer. A page is available on this website providing more details and scientific references for the benefits of polyphenols and phytochemicals.
Q. Is there any published scientific evidence of a benefit for Pomi-T®?
A. The Food and Drug Authority (FDA) and the UK’s Medicines and Health Regulatory Authority (MHRA) has classed Pomi-T® as a food supplement and not a medicinal product so it cannot be recommended for any medical condition or claim any health benefits. That said, Pomi-T® is in a unique position that it was evaluated in a national scientific study, a double blind placebo controlled randomised trial, the results of which were presented at the World’s largest and most prestigious cancer conference (ASCO).The rationale and results of this trial are summarised on this page.
Q. What is the recommended intake?
A. Pomi-T® is not a drug so there is no specific dosage and it is designed to be taken as part of a healthy balanced diet. Daily dosage depends on the food intake for that day. For example, a day with a good diet including plenty of dark green vegetables, berries, fruit and teas would only require one tablet, whereas, on an average day then 2-3 would be better. Men within the Pomi-T trial took 2 tablets a day.
Q. Can Pomi-T® be taken by diabetics?
A. Pomi-T® can be taken by diabetics, more information on the benefit of pomegranate and diabetes can be here www.altmedrev.com
Q. What is the age limit for Pomi-T®?
A. Pomi-T® can be taken at the age of 16 and above.
Q. Does Pomi-T® have to be taken with food?
A. It doesn’t really matter but in the <5% who previously reported some mild indigestion it disappeared if they then took it with food. Taking Pomi-T® with a fish oil tablet may increase the absorption of the turmeric also this was not required for the study.
Q. How can you increase the absorption and bioavailablity of the ingredients of Pomi-T®.
A. The absorption of curcumin is increased by taking it with oily foods such as a good quality fish oil. The bioavailability of all four ingredients but particularly curcumin is increased by pepper so be very generous with pepper during meal times and take Pomi-T® with or around meal times.
Although we do not heat the broccoli to very high temperatures during development, there are reported that one of the polyphenols, myrosinase, is sensitive to heat. This does not apply to the main polyphenol sulforaphane and this is one of the main healthy ingredients. Myrosinase is known to activate sulforaphane so it would be a good idea to eat some raw cruciferous veg with pomi-t and meals in general (e.g radishes).
Q. Can I take Pomi-T® have if I am pregnant or breastfeeding?
A. There is no evidence that turmeric, broccoli, pomegranate or green tea adversely affects pregnancy, although the safety of these supplements in pregnancy and lactation has not been established.
Q. What are the side effects of Pomi-T®?
A. Independent scientific analysis from the Pomi-T trial showed no statistically significant difference in side effects between Pomi-T® and placebo.
Q. Does Pomi-T® interact with other drugs?
A. Like some other fruit juices, pomegranate has a potential interaction with some drugs. There is, therefore, a small potential risk of reducing the metabolism and thereby increasing serum levels of medicines such as warfarin, anti-hypertensives such as captopril and ramipril, or anti-convulsants such as carbamazepine. Individuals on warfarin or these blood pressure tablets are not excluded from taking Pomi-T® and no adverse changes in blood pressure or INR were reported in men taking ramipril or warfarin in the Pomi-T study, but it may be advisable to repeat a blood pressure and an INR test within two weeks of starting Pomi-T.
Q. Can I take Pomi-T® during chemotherapy?
A. A laboratory test using cells in petri dishes suggest that high doses of polyphenols can have anti-oxidant activity which may potentially reduce the action of chemotherapy. This has not actually been substantiated in humans and there are ongoing studies registered with the National Cancer Institute to try to find out if they can reduce side effects of chemotherapy without reducing the effect.
In view of this potential interaction, until this issue has been scientifically resolved, consumption of Pomi-T® is best avoided 1 day before and 3 days after the administration of chemotherapy medication.
Q. How could Pomi-T® have an anti-cancer effect?
A. Polyphenol rich food extracts have demonstrated anti-cancer effects in laboratory studies, particularly the four within Pomi-T® and these have been summarised on a specific page within this website. In the laboratory, extracts of each ingredient demonstrated benefits when added to cancer cells grown in a petri dish including suppressing growth and markers of invasion and metastasis. The ingredients have been specifically selected not to have any hormonal (phytoestrogenic) effects but they do have some reported antioxidant properties. Benefits in humans of polyphenol supplements have been limited to small non-randomised studies except the Pomi-T study which showed a significant benefit of this specific polyphenol blend.
Q. Why were these four ingredients combined by the trial design committee?
A. The hypothesis of the specific food blend within Pomi-T® is that combining foods from different categories (fruit, vegetable, spice and leaf) provides a broad range of polyphenols, each with their unique properties, whilst at the same time avoiding over-consumption of one particular type which could lead to excess if taken in the long term.
Q. Could it be possible that Pomi-T only affects PSA and not the underlying disease?
A. Despite the short falls of PSA as a screening tool many doctors regard it as an an extremely useful surrogate for disease status in response to treatment especially if the velocity or doubling time is considered not just a single measurement. A drop in PSA after hormones or chemotherapy, for example, is nearly always associated with improvements in well being in the metastatic setting. In the early setting, one drug which actually reduces testosterone via an effect on the enzyme alpha reductase (finasteride) does drop PSA and it is thought that some strongly phytoestrogenic natural chemical could do the same such as soy and linseeds.
The ingredients of Pomi-T®, however, were specifically chosen not to have phytoestrogen properties. Furthermore, testosterone levels in men on Pomi-T®, measured in those who had been taking it for over 6 months , were completely normal.
Most reassuringly, retrospective analysis (at the request of the journal peer reviewers) of MRI scans taken routinely in the men on AS taking Pomi-T® in the study and afterwards did not not have a single case of radiological progress in a man who’s PSA was stable or very slowly rising. On the other hand, whereas in the men who had radiological progression their PSA’a had risen significantly and were taken off the surveillance programme for appropriate radical treatments or hormone therapies.
Q. Is it OK to use Pomi-T® if you have other cancers?
A. The scientific committee designed the first experimental evaluation of Pomi-T® in men with prostate cancer because it is a common condition and easy to investigate as often, in the early stages men were not taking any other treatments – so it is easier to attribute the affect on the cancer to the actual Pomi-T. The background laboratory experiments, however, reported the same positive effects across a number of tumour types. The scientific committee are, therefore, planning a series of studies involving different stages of prostate cancer (including men on hormones and post radical treatments including surgery and radiotherapy) and other types including CLL, ovarian, breast and bowel cancer but in the mean time we cannot say anything for sure.
Q. What other studies are in the pipeline for Pomi-T®?
A. All 4 ingredients have anti-inflammatory properties, so the latest trial will evaluate the effect of Pomi-T® on arthritis.
Q. What other lifestyle factors can I consider to help me?
A. It must be remembered that, taking Pomi-T® regularly is only one part of a healthy lifestyle programme, the most relevant evidence based self help strategies I have summarised in the book “Lifestyle after Cancer”. These include exercising more than 3 hours a week, maintaining a normal weight, optimising your micronutrient levels, stopping smoking, avoiding carcinogens in food and the environment and eating plenty of herbs, spices, green vegetables and colourful fruits and berries.
Q. Should I take Pomi-T® at a certain time of day?
A. Pomi-T® can be at a dosage of one capsule twice a day. You can take it with or without food, but those with sensitive stomachs are recommended to take it after food, for example after breakfast and after lunch which will give you protection throughout the day.
Q. Can food supplements be taken together with medicinal products?
A. Since Pomi-T® contains only 4 whole food ingredients, if your doctor has not advised you to take any particular types of foods apart from your medicines, it is unlikely that you will need to take any special precautions.
Q. Can I take Pomi-T® with my usual supplements such as glucosamine, multivitamins and omega etc. If I take Pomi-T®, can I still take these supplements? Can Pomi-T® replace all these supplements? If not, can I take all these supplements with Pomi-T® at the same time?
A. Yes, you can continue to take your usual supplements. Pomi-T® is meant to be taken as part of a healthy diet. The formulation of Pomi-T® is different from most other supplements, and it is not meant to replace other supplements. Avoid taking Pomi-T® at the same time as supplements that are meant to be taken apart from food.
Q. Storage. Do I have to keep Pomi-T® in the refrigerator?
A. Pomi-T® should be stored in a cool dry place away from light. Storage in the refrigerator is acceptable.
Q. Are there any concerns with taking Pomi-T® while I am on prescription medications?
A. The doses of ingredients in Pomi-T® are unlikely to cause any practical issues with taking Pomi-T® while on prescription medications. However as a precaution, if you are on warfarin, please let your doctor know before taking Pomi-T®. It is advised to monitor INR levels within the first 2 weeks of starting Pomi-T®. Study participants who were on warfarin in the Pomi-T study did not experience problems from drug interactions.
Q. How much caffeine is in Pomi-T®?
A. A Pomi-T® capsule contains the equivalent of 150mg of green tea with 2.4 mg of caffeine. For reference, a cup of decaffeinated coffee has 2-12 mg caffeine, and a can of coke has 32 mg caffeine.
Q. If I am sensitive to caffeine, can I still taking Pomi-T®?
A. You may still consider taking Pomi-T®, as the amount of caffeine due to its green tea content is very low. A Pomi-T® capsule contains the equivalent of 150mg of green tea with 2.4 mg of caffeine. For reference, a cup of decaffeinated coffee has 2-12 mg caffeine, and a can of coke has 32 mg caffeine.
If you have an allergy to caffeine, i.e. develop hives, rashes, difficulty breathing, then do not take Pomi-T.
Q. How long will it take for me to feel the effects of the supplements?
A. Just as the effects of a healthy diet are long term and are seen over a lifetime, it is difficult to say when you would feel an observable effect from supplements. However, we do know that it is always important to maintain a balanced diet for good health.
Q. Do I have to take Pomi-T® every day? Can I take every alternate day?
A. Polyphenols act as antioxidants and provide the anti-inflammatory power contained in fruits and vegetables. They protect cells and body chemicals against tissue damage caused by free radicals. Hence, one is strongly recommended to consumer Pomi-T® daily.
Q. If I cannot consume capsules, what are the other alternatives to take Pomi-T®?
A. You can open the capsule and pour the ingredients onto your food.
Q. A recent paper suggested isoflanones may be linked to an increased prostate cancer risk – how does this effect pomi-t?.
A. The paper suggested a possible association with high intake of phytoestrogenic isoflavones such as those in clover, soya extracts, saw palmetto with a higher risk of prostate cancer. The scientific committee were already aware of this potential link a long time ago so deliberated did not include isoflavone rich foods in the bioactive ingredients of pomi-t
Q. Is it safe to eat falaxseeds?
A. The study isoflanone study mentioned above particularly emphasised the fosds of concern did not include lignans, even if they had phytoestrogenic properties – so the lovers of flaxseeds can be reassured – they are very healthy