Is pomegranate juice good for kidney disease?
Pomegranate juice counts as a high-potassium food on a kidney diet: 1 cup (8.8 oz, 249 g) has 533 mg of potassium, 2.7 times the 200 mg per serving the National Kidney Foundation uses for high-potassium foods. About 1/3 cup (2.9 oz, 83 g) stays under 200 mg.
This page is for people with chronic kidney disease who have been told to watch potassium or phosphorus. Your kidney care team sets the limits that apply to you. These numbers help you fit a food into them.
Potassium, phosphorus and sodium by portion
| Portion | Potassium | NKF high-potassium line (200 mg) | Phosphorus | Sodium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 cup (8.8 oz, 249 g) | 533 mg | High | 27 mg | 22 mg |
| 3.5 oz (100 g) | 214 mg | High | 11 mg | 9 mg |
USDA FoodData Central, Pomegranate juice, bottled. The 200 mg line is per serving, so the same food can be under it in a small portion and over it in a large one.
What the National Kidney Foundation and NIH say
- Level E National Kidney Foundation:
A food that is considered “high-potassium” generally has 200 mg or more potassium per serving.
National Kidney Foundation, Potassium and Your CKD Diet, accessed 2026-10-12
Word-for-word quotes. Level E means the position of an expert body. How we grade evidence.
How it compares with similar foods
| Food | Portion | Potassium | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pomegranate juice | 1 cup (8.8 oz, 249 g) | 533 mg | 27 mg |
| Cranberry juice cocktail | 8 fl oz (253 g) | 35 mg | 3 mg |
| Cranberry juice blend | 6.75 fl oz (200 g) | 152 mg | 16 mg |
| Apple juice | 1 cup (8.7 oz, 248 g) | 250 mg | 17 mg |
Same USDA food group, each at its usual US portion. USDA FoodData Central.
The other side
Potassium limits apply to people whose care team has set one.
- Level C The standard advice to cut potassium in kidney disease rests on very low-quality evidence: restricting it moved blood potassium by 0.22 millimoles per liter and did not slow the disease. Morris et al., Journal of Renal Nutrition, 2020
- Level E There is no RDA for potassium because the data were insufficient to derive one, and no upper limit because high intakes do not cause hyperkalemia in adults with normal kidney function. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, Health Professional Fact Sheet: Potassium
What studies found about pomegranate juice
- Level B In 24 people on hemodialysis, 3.4 fl oz (100 mL) of pomegranate juice before each session for 4 weeks did not change pre-dialysis blood pressure and was well tolerated. J Ren Nutr, 2015
Levels: A is a meta-analysis of trials, B a randomized trial, C an observational study, D lab or animal work, E an expert position. How we grade evidence.
In practice
Pomegranate juice is a high-potassium drink. A cup has 533 mg of potassium, nearly three times the 200 mg line. About a third of a cup stays under it.
Cranberry juice cocktail is the low-potassium option in the same group, at 35 mg a cup. Apple juice is above the line at 250 mg a cup.
One small trial gave 3.4 fl oz (100 mL) of pomegranate juice to 24 people on dialysis before each session for 4 weeks, and the juice was well tolerated. By the USDA numbers above, 3.4 fl oz (100 mL) has about 225 mg of potassium, already over the 200 mg line. A trial is not a serving size, so ask your kidney care team how much fits your own potassium limit.
Evidence behind this note
- Level B In 24 people on hemodialysis, 3.4 fl oz (100 mL) of pomegranate juice before each session for 4 weeks did not change pre-dialysis blood pressure and was well tolerated. J Ren Nutr, 2015
Written from the agency positions and data on this page, reviewed by the Bioma editorial system. How we verify.
Keep exploring
Sources
- National Kidney Foundation, Potassium and Your CKD Diet, https://www.kidney.org/kidney-topics/potassium-your-ckd-diet (accessed 2026-10-12)
- USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy (2018): Pomegranate juice, bottled, FDC ID 167787
- USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy (2018): Cranberry juice cocktail, bottled, FDC ID 171903
- USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy (2018): Cranberry juice blend, 100% juice, bottled, with added vitamin C and calcium, FDC ID 168212
- USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy (2018): Apple juice, canned or bottled, unsweetened, without added ascorbic acid, FDC ID 173933
- Evidence cards: each study above links to its source. Card review dates are listed in our methodology.
Sources checked 2026-10-12. Bioma Learn provides information, not medical advice.