Effect of garlic on serum adiponectin and interleukin levels in women with metabolic syndrome

Background: Metabolic syndrome is considered to be an inflammatory situation with highly production of adipokines. Garlic and its products are known to induce anti-inflammatory effects. However, no data are available on the anti- inflammatory effects of garlic in subjects with metabolic syndrome.Objectives: This study was designed to investigate the effects of a chemically wellcharacterized garlic preparation on biomarkers for inflammation, and lipid metabolism in subjects with metabolic syndrome.Patients and Methods: This study was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial in 40 adult women, aged 18 year, who were diagnosed to have metabolic syndrome based on ATPIII criteria and 10 normal women. The cases were randomly assigned to 2 parallel treatment groups: garlic tablets (1.8 g/d), or placebo. Serum adiponectin,interleukin 6, TNF α and lipid profiles were measured at baseline and after 6 weeks of treatment and anthropometric measurements were recorded.Results: Compared to the placebo group, garlic treatment resulted in significantly lower weight and waist circumference in women with metabolic syndrome. No effect on weight was detected in normal subjects with garlic. None of the inflammatory biomarkers and plasma lipid levels showed significant differences between the garlic-treated and the placebo groups.Conclusions: This study confirms that garlic has no effect on major plasma lipoproteins and urthermore has no impact on inflammatory biomarkers in women with metabolic syndrome.