FROM:
Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 1995 (Sep); 53 (3): 211–212
Ali M, Thomson M
Department of Biochemistry,
Faculty of Science,
Kuwait University,
Safat, Kuwait
The effect of the consumption of a fresh clove of garlic on
platelet thromboxane production was examined. A group of male
volunteers in the age range 40-50 years participated in the
study. Each volunteer consumed one clove (approximately 3 g) of
fresh garlic daily for a period of 16 weeks. Each participant
served as his own control. Thromboxane B2 (TXB2, a stable
metabolite of thromboxane A2), cholesterol and glucose were
determined in serum obtained after blood clotting. After 26 weeks
of garlic consumption, there was an approximately 20% reduction
of serum cholesterol and about 80% reduction in serum
thromboxane. No change in the level of serum glucose was
observed. Thus, it appears that small amounts of fresh garlic
consumed over a long period of time may be beneficial in the
prevention of thrombosis.