Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases by Garlic-Derived Sulfur Compounds

Lifestyle-related diseases have complex pathogenesis which consists of several different steps. Basic causes of the diseases are attributed to unhealthy lifestyles in dietary habits, physical activity and suffering stress. The unhealthy lifestyles induce risk factors such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity, and hyperglycemia. These risk factors all promote arteriosclerosis leading to serious vascular complications (i.e., thrombotic diseases), myocardial infarction and cerebral infarction. The total number of deaths from these thrombotic diseases almost equals that from cancer in our country. Cancer is also a typical lifestyle-related disease. Food has three different functions: the primary function is to provide enough nutrients to meet the metabolic requirements. The secondary function is the one relating to food preference. The third function is to control our body functions, which help reduction of the risk of diseases. Some of the compounds derived from food, especially phytochemicals in edible plants, vegetables and herbs, have potent functions to control our body functions and contribute to promoting our health. In this review article, we overview the lifestyle-related diseases and food functions involving prevention and amelioration of the diseases by food components especially from edible plants and vegetables. As an example, we will describe the food function of garlic and the prevention of lifestyle-related diseases by its components. Allyl sulfides are characteristic flavor compounds derived from garlic, and these organosulfur compounds are responsible for the food function of garlic.