Aged garlic extract with supplement is associated with increase in brown adipose, decrease in white adipose tissue
Naser Ahmadi1, Vahid Nabavi, Fereshteh Hajsadeghi
1Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA, USA; Greater Los Angeles Veterans Administration Medical Center, UCLA-School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
International Journal of Cardiology
|March 5, 2013
Summary
Aged garlic extract supplement (AGE-S) improves vascular function and reduces coronary artery calcium (CAC) progression. AGE-S increases brown epicardial adipose tissue (bEAT) and enhances vascular function, indicating plaque stabilization.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Health
- Nutritional Science
- Metabolic Research
Background:
- Coronary artery calcium (CAC) is a marker of atherosclerosis.
- Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) plays a role in cardiovascular health.
- Homocysteine levels are linked to cardiovascular disease risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effects of aged garlic extract supplement (AGE-S) on white (wEAT) and brown (bEAT) epicardial adipose tissue.
- To assess the impact of AGE-S on homocysteine levels and CAC progression.
- To investigate the relationship between AGE-S, vascular function, and cardiovascular markers.
Main Methods:
- Sixty subjects were randomized to receive daily AGE-S or placebo for 12 months.
- Measurements included CAC, wEAT, bEAT, and vascular function (temperature-rebound index).
- CAC progression was defined as an annual increase >15%.
Main Results:
- AGE-S significantly reduced CAC progression, increased wEAT, and lowered homocysteine compared to placebo.
- bEAT and temperature-rebound were significantly higher in the AGE-S group.
- Increased bEAT/wEAT ratio strongly correlated with improved vascular function and predicted reduced CAC progression.
Conclusions:
- AGE-S promotes an increase in the bEAT/wEAT ratio, reduces homocysteine, and prevents CAC progression.
- The bEAT/wEAT ratio increase is linked to enhanced vascular function (temperature-rebound).
- AGE-S may contribute to plaque stabilization and improved cardiovascular health.
