Internationale Zeitschrift für Herz-Kreislauf-Forschung

Aged Garlic Extract with Supplement is Associated with Beneficial Effect on Bone Mineral Density and Predicts Lack of Progression of Atherosclerosis: A Prospective Double Blinded Randomized Trial

Naser Ahmadi, Vahid Nabavi, Hussein Zughaib, Nichole Patel, Avinash Rathod, Ferdinand Flores, Song Mao, Fereshteh, Hajsadeghi and Matthew Budoff

 Aged Garlic Extract with Supplement is Associated with Beneficial Effect on Bone Mineral Density and Predicts Lack of Progression of Atherosclerosis: A Prospective Double Blinded Randomized Trial

Low levels of bone-mineral-density (BMD) are independently associated with the presence and severity of coronary-arterycalcium (CAC). This study evaluates the beneficial-effects of aged-garlic-extract therapy with-supplements (AGE-S) on levels of BMD, vascular-function, inflammation and CAC. Sixty subjects, randomized to four daily capsules of placebo vs. AGE-S inclusive of aged garlic extract (1000 mg) plus VitaminB12 (400 mcg or µg), folic-acid (1200 mcg or µg), Vitamin-B6 (50 mg) and L-arginine (400 mg) underwent CAC, thoracicBMD (mg/cc), lipid-profile, lipoprotein a (Lp-a), homocysteine and vascular-function measurement at baseline and 12- months. The postcuff-deflation temperature-rebound (TR), digital-thermal-monitoring index of vascular-function was assessed using a reactive-hyperemia-procedure. At 1-year, the mean increase in CAC and decrease in BMD was significantly lower in the AGE-S as compared to the placebo (p<0.05). After adjustment for risk-factors, the risk of CAC progression and reduced BMD was 65% and 68% less in AGE-S as compared to placebo (P<0.05). From baseline to 12 months, a significant correlation was noted between increase in CAC and decreases in BMD. Similarly, a significant correlation was noted between increase in TR and decrease in homocysteine as well as increase in Lp-a with lack of decrease in BMD. The maximum beneficial effect of AGE-S was noted with increase in TR, lack of decrease in BMD and lack of progression of CAC. In conclusion, this study demonstrates AGE-S is independently associated with favorable effect on A strong direct relation between increases in vascular-function, decrease in inflammation with lack of lowering in BMD levels as well as lack of CAC-progression in response to AGE-S was noted.