Garlic extract improves Cardiovascular immune and liver health
Garlic extract (Allium sativum), as known as Aged Garlic extract(AGE), has been used widely as a flavoring agent, a nutrition supplement or medicine to prevent and treat a wide range of conditions and diseases for many years . The earliest records of the use of garlic can be traced back to the Zoroastrian culture in the 6th century BC. Sumerians, ancient Egyptians, and Greeks also have records of treatment with garlic. In addition, Chinese traditional medicine, Indian Ayurveda etc also respect the use of garlic and have been deeply applied in its daily traditions. According to some researches, Garlic extract improves Cardiovascular immune and liver health.
Modern science has demonstrated the traditional use of garlic. Pharmacological studies suggest that Garlic has antioxidant, increases nitric oxide content, inhibits angiotensin conversion enzymes (ACE) and other properties. Garlic ability to reduce inflammation is accomplished by various enzymes including cyclooxygenase (COX) and lipid oxygenase (LOX), and the K B(NF- kB) can control inflammation at the atomic level.
Clinical studies show that garlic can maintain normal platelet aggregation, reduce lipid peroxidation, and support healthy blood lipid levels, and these mechanisms make garlic suitable for supporting cardiovascular function, immune health, and many other health problems.
A research from UCLA Medical Center is aimed to assess the effect of garlic on the reduction of Non-Calcified arterial plaques. Researchers selected at random 55 Metabolic Syndrome Patients, and asked them to use garlic extract supplement (2400mg/day) or a placebo for one year. And the pre-study assessment includes Cardiac profiling angioplaque photography (CCTA). The study found that, compared to the control group, garlic extract can significantly reduce the rate of low density plaques, and the low density plaques is considered to be part of the non-calcified plaque, therefore, researchers believe that the old garlic extract can promote cardiovascular health by reducing these plaques.
Also, another research on garlic extract was made by Catholic University of Korea .This randomized trial was conducted on 75 adults who have mild liver dysfunction, but no liver disease diagnosed. Participants randomly took garlic extract or placebo, two bags per day for 12 weeks. Prior to the start, all participants involved in the study were tested their serum gamma-transferase (GGT) levels.
At the end of 12 weeks, the researchers tested again the changes of the participants ‘GGT level and the content of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), the result shown that compared with the placebo group, the ALT and GGT levels in the group that took garlic extract supplement is improved, this shows that for the people who have mild liver dysfunction, garlic extract can promote their liver health. The researchers also said, the changes in liver enzymes may also indicate that garlic extracts may help alleviate more severe liver dysfunction.
In the meanwhile, Susan Percival from University of Florida led her research team to do a study about the effect of garlic extract on immune cell proliferation activation and inflammatory process.
In this double-blind placebo controlled study, 120 healthy adults took 2.56 grams of garlic extract or placebo daily for 90 days during the cold and flu season. At the beginning of the 90-day intervention study, the researchers isolated peripheral blood monocytes (an immune cell), and assessed the function of T-cells and natural killer(NK) cells on the 45th and 90th days.
Study shown that garlic extract can significantly improve the proliferation of T-cells and NK cells and reduce colds and flu, the people who used garlic extract shortened their cold sick leave time. This indicates that garlic extract has multiple benefits for immune health.
