Effect of dried garlic powder tablets on postprandial increase in pulse wave velocity after a fatty meal: preliminary observations Beate Turner A1, Christian Mølgaard , Peter Marckmann A2 A1 Department of Human Nutrition and Centre for Advanced Food Studies The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University Frederiksberg Denmark A2 Present affiliations: Dansk Droge Ishøj Denmark A3 Department of Internal Medicine Roskilde Hospital Roskilde Denmark Abstract: Background : Garlic and sulfur-containing components of garlic have been reported to stimulate nitric oxide synthesis in the endothelium. Nitric oxide production is an important determinant of arterial stiffness. Objective : To examine the impact of dried garlic powder tablets on arterial stiffness as assessed by measurements of pulse wave velocity (PWV). Design : Two separate randomized cross-over studies of healthy people (trial I: n=13; trial II: n=9) were conducted. On separate days, participants consumed a high-fat meal (50 g fat) supplemented with garlic powder tablets (8.4 mg alliin), and an identical, but unsupplemented meal. PWV (m s−1) was measured immediately before and 2-3 h after the test meal. Results : The unsupplemented fatty meal resulted in a significant 5-6% postprandial increase in PWV in both trials (I: +0.19 m s−1, p=0.04; II: +0.21 m s−1, p=0.02). In contrast, the supplemented meal was not associated with any postprandial PWV changes in either trial (I: −0.02 m s−1, p=0.31; II: 0.00 m s−1, p=0.95). In pooled analysis (trials I and II), the inhibitory effect of garlic powder on the fatty meal-induced postprandial PWV increase was statistically significant (+0.20 m s−1 vs −0.01 m s−1, p=0.01). Conclusions : The postprandial increase in PWV associated with consumption of a high-fat meal seems to be prevented by dried garlic powder supplementation. Larger, blinded and placebo-controlled trials are needed to confirm the possible antiatherogenic effect. Scandinavian Journal of Nutrition Issue: Volume 49, Number 1 / March 2005 Pages: 21 - 26 DOI: 10.1080/11026480510011343 Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.