Effect of garlic supplementation on oxidized low density lipoproteins and lipid peroxidation in patients of essential hypertension

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of many diseases including hypertension. Therefore, certain compounds with antioxidative capacity are believed to be protective against such diseases. Some components of garlic are known to possess antioxidative properties. Therefore, in the present study we investigated the effect of short-term garlic supplementation in essential hypertensive patients (EH) on indices of oxidative stress. Twenty patients of EH as diagnosed by JNC VI criteria (Group I) and 20 age and sex-matched normotensive controls were enrolled for the study. Both groups were given garlic pearls (GP) in a dose of 250 mg per day for 2 months. Baseline samples were obtained at start of the study, i.e. 0 day, and thereafter, 2 months (follow-up). Lipids and lipoprotein subfractions, plasma-oxidized low-density lipoproteins (ox-LDL), plasma and urinary concentration of 8-iso-Prostaglandin F-2alpha (8-iso-PGF(2alpha)) as a biomarker of oxidative stress in vivo, and the total antioxidant status (TOS) of these individuals were determined. We observed a moderate hypercholesterolemia and a significantly raised blood pressure in hypertensive patients as compared to the controls. The indices of oxidative stress, i.e. plasma ox-LDL and plasma and urinary concentration of 8-iso-PGF(2alpha) were significantly increased in EH group. Further, hypertensive patients had a significantly low TOS as compared to the control group. With in 2 months of GP supplementation, there was a significant decline in both systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressures (DBP) and a significant reduction in ox-LDL and 8-iso-PGF(2alpha) levels in Group I patients. Further, a moderate increase in the TOS was also observed in this group as compared to their control counterparts. These findings suggest that dietary supplementation of garlic may be beneficial in reducing blood pressure and oxidative stress in hypertensive individuals.