Potential Health Benefit of Garlic Based on Human Intervention Studies: A Brief Overview

Area of Science:

• Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods
• Herbal Medicine
• Dietary Supplements

Background:

• Garlic (Allium sativum) is a widely consumed spice with a rich history in traditional medicine.
• It contains polyphenolic and organosulfur compounds known for their health-promoting properties.
• Garlic exhibits antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and lipid-lowering effects relevant to numerous diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To comprehensively review the effects of garlic consumption, preparations, and extracts on various health conditions.
• To analyze the impact of garlic-derived bioactive constituents on oxidative stress, inflammation, and common diseases.
• To discuss the limitations and potential of garlic in therapeutic applications.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies.
• Analysis of 83 human interventional trials on garlic consumption.
• Evaluation of garlic's effects on disease biomarkers and its interactions with pharmaceuticals.

Main Results:

• Garlic consumption modulates multiple disease biomarkers.
• Garlic and its derivatives demonstrate efficacy against cancer, cardiovascular, and metabolic disorders.
• Combinations of garlic with drugs or other foods are safe and can enhance therapeutic outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Garlic possesses significant therapeutic potential due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
• Bioavailability and rapid metabolism are key challenges for garlic's clinical use.
• Further research into garlic's bioactive compounds can optimize its health applications.