Aged garlic extract preserves cutaneous microcirculation in patients with increased risk for cardiovascular diseases: A double-blinded placebo-controlled study

Int Wound J. 2019 Dec;16(6):1487-1493. doi: 10.1111/iwj.13220. Epub 2019 Sep 13.

Abstract

Laser Doppler velocimetry estimates tissue perfusion providing a record of microvascular blood flow. Patients with heart disease or diabetes mellitus have impaired microvascular perfusion leading to impaired wound healing. Aged garlic extract (AGE) has a positive effect on vascular elasticity. This study aimed to assess the effect of long-term treatment with AGE on cutaneous tissue perfusion. A total of 122 patients with Framingham Risk Score ≥ 10 were randomised in a double-blinded manner to placebo or 2400 mg AGE daily for 1 year and monitored. Cutaneous microcirculation was measured at 0 and 12 months using laser Doppler velocimetry. A repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) with a Greenhouse-Geisser correction determined that mean post-occlusive reactive hyperaemia differed significantly between time points. The mean percent change between the two time points 0 and 12 months was 102, 64 (174, 15)% change for AGE and 78, 62 (107, 92)% change for the placebo group (F[1, 120] = 5. 95, P < 0.016), 12 months of AGE increases the microcirculation in patients with an increased risk for cardiovascular events estimated using the Framingham risk score. Increased microcirculation could hypothetically facilitate wound healing.

Keywords: aged garlic extract; atherosclerosis; cutaneous microcirculation; double blinded; laser Doppler velocimetry.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Diabetes Mellitus / epidemiology
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Female
  • Garlic*
  • Humans
  • Hypercholesterolemia / epidemiology
  • Hypertension / epidemiology
  • Laser-Doppler Flowmetry
  • Male
  • Microcirculation*
  • Middle Aged
  • Plant Extracts*
  • Skin / blood supply*
  • Smoking / epidemiology

Substances

  • Plant Extracts