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Aged garlic extract improves homocysteine-induced endothelial dysfunction in macro- and microcirculation
Norbert Weiss1, Nagatoshi Ide, Thomas Abahji
1Department of Metabolic Diseases, Medical Policlinic, City Campus, University of Munich Medical Center, Munich, Germany. norbert.weiss@med.uni-muenchen.de
The Journal of Nutrition
|February 18, 2006
Summary
Aged garlic extract (AGE) can protect against endothelial dysfunction caused by high homocysteine levels. This study shows AGE helps maintain nitric oxide (NO) availability and vascular function in healthy individuals.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Research
- Vascular Biology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Hyperhomocysteinemia elevates vascular oxidant stress, reducing nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability and impairing endothelial function.
- Cellular glutathione and glutathione peroxidase activity can mitigate homocysteine's detrimental effects on endothelial health.
- Aged garlic extract (AGE) possesses sulfur compounds that modulate cellular redox state, reduce oxidant stress, and enhance NO generation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of AGE in preventing macro- and microvascular endothelial dysfunction induced by acute hyperhomocysteinemia in healthy subjects.
- To assess AGE's impact on nitric oxide (NO) and endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF) pathways.
Main Methods:
- A placebo-controlled, blinded, crossover trial involving healthy subjects.
- Acute hyperhomocysteinemia was induced using an oral methionine challenge.
- Macrovascular function was assessed via brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (ultrasound); microvascular function was measured by acetylcholine-stimulated skin perfusion (laser-Doppler flowmetry).
Main Results:
- Acute hyperhomocysteinemia significantly impaired brachial artery vasodilation and skin microvascular perfusion.
- Pretreatment with AGE for 6 weeks significantly attenuated these adverse effects of hyperhomocysteinemia in both macro- and microvascular beds.
- AGE appeared to prevent the reduction in bioavailable NO and EDHF during hyperhomocysteinemia.
Conclusions:
- Aged garlic extract (AGE) demonstrates potential in mitigating endothelial dysfunction associated with hyperhomocysteinemia.
- AGE may preserve nitric oxide (NO) and endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF) availability.
- Further research is warranted to explore AGE's role in cardiovascular risk factors and patient outcomes.