Influence of Allium sativum on oxidative stress status - a clinical investigation

The influence of daily application of coated garlic powder tablets (900 mg with an alliin content of 1.3% and an allicin content of 0.6%) on serum levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and concentrations of reduced (GSH) and oxidized (GSSG) glutathione was investigated. 25 healthy volunteers were treated with garlic tablets for 2 months. After the 2 months' treatment a reduction of initial serum MDA level was observed. Application of Allium sativum reduced the MDA level by about 60% of the initial value. The MDA reducing effect was found in all age groups. In two age groups (younger than 30 years and older than 40 years) different initial values (higher values in elderly) but almost the equal MDA-levels after the treatment were found. The GSH concentration in circulating human erythrocytes showed a significant increase after the 2 month period of application of Allium sativum tablets, while the GSSG concentration showed no significant changes during the whole period of investigation. Thus a significantly decreasing trend of the GSSG: total glutathione ratio was measured.