Aged Garlic Extract Improves Adiponectin Levels in Subjects with Metabolic Syndrome: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Randomized, Crossover Study

Ronald Gerardo García,Maria Valero-Muñoz,Vicente Lahera,Yudy Rodríguez,Pilar Oubiña,Natalia de las Heras,Diego Gómez-Arbeláez,Patricio López-Jaramillo,Paul Anthony Camacho

doi:10.1155/2013/285795

Abstract

Background. Garlic (Allium sativum) has been shown to have important benefits in individuals at high cardiovascular risk. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of the administration of aged garlic extract (AGE) on the risk factors that constitute the cluster of metabolic syndrome (MS). Methods and Design. Double-blind, crossover, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial to assess the effect of 1.2 g/day of AGE (Kyolic), for 24 weeks of treatment (12 weeks of AGE and 12 weeks of placebo), on subjects with MS. Results. The administration of AGE increased the plasma levels of adiponectin (P = 0.027). No serious side effects associated with the intervention were reported. Conclusion. The present results have shown for the first time that the administration of AGE for 12 weeks increased plasma adiponectin levels in patients with MS. This suggests that AGE might be a useful, novel, nonpharmacological therapeutic intervention to increase adiponectin and to prevent cardiovascular (CV) complications in individuals with MS.

Highlights

Metabolic syndrome (MS) is characterized by the presence of insulin resistance, low-degree inflammation, dysglycemia, low plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), increased triglycerides (TG), elevated blood pressure, and abdominal obesity [1]
The analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) confirmed that the significant difference in adiponectin was due to the treatment, not the phase of the study as no significant changes were observed in the interaction treatment phase (Table 3)
The present study demonstrates for the first time that the administration of aged garlic extract (AGE) to subjects with metabolic syndrome (MS) for 12 weeks increased adiponectin plasma concentrations

Summary

Introduction

Metabolic syndrome (MS) is characterized by the presence of insulin resistance, low-degree inflammation, dysglycemia, low plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), increased triglycerides (TG), elevated blood pressure, and abdominal obesity [1]. The release of adipokines by either adipocytes or adipose tissueinfiltrated macrophages plays a key role in the development of insulin resistance and DM2, as well as the increased risk of cardiovascular disease associated with obesity. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of the administration of aged garlic extract (AGE) on the risk factors that constitute the cluster of metabolic syndrome (MS). The present results have shown for the first time that the administration of AGE for 12 weeks increased plasma adiponectin levels in patients with MS. This suggests that AGE might be a useful, novel, nonpharmacological therapeutic intervention to increase adiponectin and to prevent cardiovascular (CV) complications in individuals with MS

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion