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(Circulation. 1997;96:2649-2655.)
© 1997 American Heart Association, Inc.
Articles |
Protective Effect of Chronic Garlic Intake on Elastic Properties of Aorta in the Elderly
From the Centre for Cardiovascular Pharmacology, ZeKaPha GmbH (K.B.-G., M.L., G.G.B.), Mainz, Germany, and Division of Cardiology (H.B.), Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio.
Correspondence to Prof Gustav G. Belz, MD, PhD, FAAC, Zentrum für Kardiovaskuläre Pharmakologie, Mathildenstraße 8, 55116 Mainz, Germany.
Background Epidemiological studies have suggested that garlic may have protective effects against cardiovascular diseases. We undertook this cross-sectional observational study to test the hypothesis that regular garlic intake would delay the stiffening of the aorta relating to aging.
Methods and Results We studied healthy adults (n=101;
age, 50 to 80 years) who were taking 
300 mg/d of standardized garlic
powder for 2 years and 101 age- and sex-matched control subjects.
Pulse wave velocity (PWV) and pressure-standardized elastic vascular
resistance (EVR) were used to measure the elastic properties of the
aorta. Blood pressures, heart rate, and plasma lipid levels were
similar in the two groups. PWV (8.3±1.46 versus 9.8±2.45 m/s;
P<.0001) and EVR (0.63±0.21 versus 0.9±0.44
m2 · s-2 ·
mm Hg-1; P<.0001) were lower in
the garlic group than in the control group. PWV showed significant
positive correlation with age (garlic group, r=.44; control
group, r=.52) and systolic blood pressure (SBP)
(garlic group, r=.48; control group, r=.54). With
any degree of increase in age or SBP, PWV increased less in the garlic
group than in the control group (P<.0001). ANCOVA and
multiple regression analyses demonstrated that age and SBP were
the most important determinants of PWV and that the effect of garlic on
PWV was independent of confounding factors.
Conclusions Chronic garlic powder intake attenuated age-related increases in aortic stiffness. These data strongly support the hypothesis that garlic intake had a protective effect on the elastic properties of the aorta related to aging in humans.
Key Words: aorta • arteriosclerosis • elasticity • garlic • waves
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