Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Garlic Consumption and Regular Exercise in Sedentary Overweight Individuals

Background: A sedentary lifestyle can result in chronic inflammation, which is a risk factor for Cardiovascular Disease (CVD).Lifestyle modifications, including physical activity and herbal supplements, may have health benefits.Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the effect of regular exercise and garlic consumption on some inflammatorybiomarkers in sedentary overweight individuals.Methods: Forty-four sedentary overweight male participants (۲۰ - ۳۰ years) were randomized to the following groups: Exercise +garlic (ES), exercise + placebo (E), garlic (G), and placebo (P). The training protocol included ۲۰ - ۴۵ minutes of walking/running at۶۰ to ۷۵% of the maximum heart rate, three sessions per week for eight weeks. Participants consumed two capsules containing ۵۰۰milligrams of garlic powder or placebo (starch) per day. Before and ۴۸ h after the exercise intervention and supplement administration,blood samples were collected to assess the hs-CRP and TNF- serum levels. One-way ANOVA and Tukey’s post hoc tests wereused to analyze the data at a significance level of P < ۰.۰۵.Results: A significant difference was observed between the groups regarding the hs-CRP and TNF- levels after the experimentalperiod (P < ۰.۰۵). There was a significant difference between EG and placebo groups (P < ۰.۰۵).Conclusions: Based on the findings, garlic consumption, along with exercise training could exert anti-inflammatory properties inoverweight subjects.

Keywords:

Exercise , Inflammation , Garlic , hs-CRP , TNF-