EFFECTS OF GARLIC ON ENDOTHELIAL FUNCTION IN PATIENTS WITH CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE

Background and Aim: This study investigated the effects of garlic on brachial endothelial function in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).Methods: This study was a randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trial. Male and female patients aged 25–75 years with severe coronary artery disease (CAD) who underwent angioplasty were recruited from the Rajaei Cardiovascular, Medical and Research Center. patients were randomly divided into two groups: those receiving garlic powder or placebo tablets twice daily for 3 months. Brachial endothelial function was assessed by performing ultrasound, a noninvasive method, of the endothelial-dependent flow-mediated vasodilation of the brachial artery by a single radiologist blinded to the patients’ data.Results: In our study, 65.4% of patients had brachial endothelial function values <5.3%. After 3 months of treatment, FMD values (50.7%) significantly improved from the baseline value in the garlic group (p=0.001), whereas they did not in the placebo group (p=0.92). Final FMD values were significantly higher in the garlic than in the placebo group (p=0.016).Conclusion: Our study results suggest that short-term treatment with garlic may improve the endothelial function and may be considered as an adjunct treatment CAD.

Keywords:

garlic powder tablet , brachial endothelial function , CAD