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Garlic intake is an independent predictor of endothelial function in patients with ischemic stroke

  • Published:
The journal of nutrition, health & aging

Abstract

Objetives

To investigate the effects of garlic on endothelial function in patients with ischemic stroke (ISS). Design: Cross-sectional study.

Participants

125 Chinese patients with prior ISS due to athero-thrombotic disease were recruited from the outpatient clinics during July 2005 to December 2006.

Measurements

Daily allium vegetable intake (including garlic, onions, Chinese chives and shallots) was ascertained by means of a validated food frequency questionnaire for Chinese and brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) was measured using high-resolution ultrasound in all subjects.

Results

The mean age of the study population was 65.9±11.1 years and 69% were males. Mean allium vegetable intake and garlic intake of the study population was 7.5±12.7g/day and 2.9±8.8g/day respectively. Their mean FMD was 2.6±2.3%. Daily intake of total allium vegetable (r=0.36, P<0.01) and garlic (r=0.34, P<0.01) significantly correlated with FMD. Using the median daily allium intake as cut-off (3.37g/day), patients with a low allium intake <3.37g/day was noted to have a lower FMD compared to those with a normal allium intake (2.1±2.1% versus 3.0±2.4%, P<0.05). After adjusting for confounding factors, multi-variate analysis identified that daily allium vegetable (B=0.05, 95% confidence interval: 0.02, 0.09, P<0.01) and garlic (B=0.07, 95% confidence interval: 0.02, 0.12, P<0.01) intake, but not onions, Chinese chives and shallots were independent predictors for changes in FMD in patients with ISS.

Conclusions

Daily garlic intake is an independent predictor of endothelial function in patients with ISS and may play a role in the secondary prevention of atherosclerotic events.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China

    K. -K. Lau, Y. -K. Wong, K. -C. Teo, S. -L. Ho & K. H. Chan

  2. Research Center of Heart, Brain, Hormone and Healthy Aging, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China

    K. -K. Lau, K. -H. Yiu, S. -L. Ho, K. H. Chan, C. -W. Siu & Hung Fat Tse

  3. Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China

    Y. -H. Chan, K. -H. Yiu, S. Liu, C. -W. Siu & Hung Fat Tse

  4. Division of Rehabilitation Medicine, Department of Medicine, Tung Wah Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China

    L. S. -W. Li

  5. Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt Epidemiology Center and Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University of Medicine, Nashville, USA

    X. -O. Shu

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  1. K. -K. Lau
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  2. Y. -H. Chan
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  6. S. Liu
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  7. L. S. -W. Li
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  12. Hung Fat Tse
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Correspondence to Hung Fat Tse.

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Lau, K.K., Chan, Y.H., Wong, Y.K. et al. Garlic intake is an independent predictor of endothelial function in patients with ischemic stroke. J Nutr Health Aging 17, 600–604 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-013-0043-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-013-0043-6

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