Supplementation with aged garlic extract improves both NK and γδ-T cell function and reduces the severity of cold and flu symptoms: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled nutrition intervention

Randomized Controlled Trial

doi: 10.1016/j.clnu.2011.11.019. Epub 2012 Jan 24.

Affiliations

PMID: 22280901
DOI: 10.1016/j.clnu.2011.11.019

Randomized Controlled Trial

Meri P Nantz et al. Clin Nutr. 2012 Jun.

Abstract

Background & aims: Earlier studies show that dietary bioactive compounds can modify proliferation of γδ-T cells. Garlic contains numerous compounds that have this potential and, in addition, has been shown to influence NK cell function. Our primary aim was to demonstrate that aged garlic extract could modify these immune cells.

Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel intervention study recruited 120 healthy subjects (60 per group) to determine the effect of aged garlic extract supplementation (2.56 g/d) on immune cell proliferation and cold and flu symptoms.

Results: After 45 d of consuming an encapsulated aged garlic extract, γδ-T cells (p = 0.039, n = 56) and NK cells (p = 0.043, n = 56) were shown to proliferate better compared to placebo. After 90 d of supplementation, illness diary entries showed that the incidence of colds and flu, a secondary outcome, were not statistically different; however, the group consuming the aged garlic extract appeared to have reduced severity as noted by a reduction in the number of symptoms reported (21% fewer, p < 0.001, z-test of proportions), a reduction in the number of days (61% fewer, p < 0.001, z-test) and incidences (58% fewer p < 0.001, z-test) where the subjects functioned sub-optimally and the number of work/school days missed due to illness (58% fewer, p = 0.035, z-test).

Conclusions: These results suggest that supplementation of the diet with aged garlic extract may enhance immune cell function and that this may be responsible, in part, for reduced severity of colds and flu.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01390116.

PubMed Disclaimer

Cited by

Treatment of a Woman With Glycyrrhiza glabra for Acute Sinusitis: A Case Report.
Martin BR, Reshamwala G, Short M. Martin BR, et al. J Chiropr Med. 2018 Dec;17(4):268-274. doi: 10.1016/j.jcm.2018.04.005. Epub 2019 Jan 20. J Chiropr Med. 2018. PMID: 30846920 Free PMC article.
Chemical and Biological Properties of S-1-Propenyl-l-Cysteine in Aged Garlic Extract.
Kodera Y, Ushijima M, Amano H, Suzuki JI, Matsutomo T. Kodera Y, et al. Molecules. 2017 Mar 31;22(4):570. doi: 10.3390/molecules22040570. Molecules. 2017. PMID: 28362335 Free PMC article. Review.
Research advance of natural products in tumor immunotherapy.
Huo JL, Fu WJ, Liu ZH, Lu N, Jia XQ, Liu ZS. Huo JL, et al. Front Immunol. 2022 Sep 2;13:972345. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.972345. eCollection 2022. Front Immunol. 2022. PMID: 36159787 Free PMC article. Review.
Integrative medicine considerations for convalescence from mild-to-moderate COVID-19 disease.
Alschuler L, Chiasson AM, Horwitz R, Sternberg E, Crocker R, Weil A, Maizes V. Alschuler L, et al. Explore (NY). 2022 Mar-Apr;18(2):140-148. doi: 10.1016/j.explore.2020.12.005. Epub 2020 Dec 23. Explore (NY). 2022. PMID: 33358750 Free PMC article. Review.
Therapeutic effects of S-allyl-L-cysteine in a mouse endometriosis model and its immunomodulatory effects via regulation of T cell subsets and cytokine expression.
Park W, Song G, Lim W, Park S. Park W, et al. Pharmacol Rep. 2024 Oct;76(5):1089-1099. doi: 10.1007/s43440-024-00625-1. Epub 2024 Aug 2. Pharmacol Rep. 2024. PMID: 39093549

Supplementation with aged garlic extract improves both NK and γδ-T cell function and reduces the severity of cold and flu symptoms: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled nutrition intervention - PubMed (original) (raw)