The favorable effects of garlic intake on metabolic profiles, hs-CRP, biomarkers of oxidative stress and pregnancy outcomes in pregnant women at risk for pre-eclampsia: randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Abstract

Objective: This study was performed to determine the favorable effects of garlic on metabolic status and pregnancy outcomes among pregnant women at risk for pre-eclampsia.

Methods: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted among 44 pregnant women, primigravida, aged 18–40 years old at 27 weeks' gestation with positive roll-over test. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either one garlic tablet (equal to 400 mg garlic and 1 mg allicin) (n = 22) or placebo (n = 22) once daily for 9 weeks. Fasting blood samples were taken at baseline and after 9 weeks' intervention to measure metabolic profiles and biomarkers of oxidative stress.

Results: Administration of garlic compared with the placebo resulted in decreased levels of serum high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) (−1425.90 versus 1360.50 ng/mL, p = 0.01) and increased plasma glutathione (GSH) (+98.10 versus. −49.87 µmol/l, p = 0.03). A trend toward a significant effect of garlic intake on reducing fasting plasma glucose (FPG) (p = 0.07), insulin (p = 0.09) and increasing quantitative insulin sensitivity check (QUICKI) (p = 0.05) was also observed.

Conclusion: Consumption of garlic for 9 weeks among pregnant women at risk for pre-eclampsia led to decreased hs-CRP and increased GSH, but did not affect lipid profiles, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and pregnancy outcomes.

• Garlic
• hs-CRP
• metabolic profiles
• oxidative stress
• pregnancy outcomes

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Expression of Concern

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the staff of Naghavi and Shaheed Beheshti Clinics, Kashan, Iran for their assistance in this project.

Declaration of interest

None of the authors had any personal or financial conflict of interest.

The present study was supported by a grant from the Vice-chancellor for Research, KUMS, and Iran. The study was supported by a grant from Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran.