Garlic Powder & Cardiovascular Health / Vitamin C & Telomeres / Antioxidants & Liver

Garlic Powder May Help Support Cardiovascular & Intestinal Health

Garlic contains manganese, vitamin B6, vitamin C, and selenium. Garlic also contains an amino acid called allicin which has high antioxidant qualities. According to a new study, supplementation with garlic powder may provide cardiovascular and intestinal health benefits.

The researchers recruited 90 adults struggling with certain aspects of cardiovascular and metabolic health. Half were given 1,600 mg of garlic powder containing 1.5 mg of allicin daily for 12 weeks. The other half were given a placebo.

Various measures of cardiovascular, metabolic and intestinal health were evaluated at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks.

Participants in the garlic group experienced improvements in cardiovascular and metabolic health factors like triglyceride levels relative to waist size measurement.

In addition, there was evidence of garlic’s prebiotic activity in the intestines, as those in the garlic group improved intestinal transit time (pace waste passes through intestines), on average.

The study was conducted by researchers from Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences. It was published online ahead of print on January 31, 2023, in the journal Phytotherapy Research.

article 2Ginkgo Biloba May Help Support Cardiovascular Health

Ginkgo biloba is one of the oldest living tree species. It contains flavonoids and terpenoids which have high antioxidant qualities. A recent review has found that ginkgo biloba may help support cardiovascular health.

Researchers from the University of Lisbon reviewed the findings of previous clinical trials. The trials evaluated the effect of supplementation with ginkgo biloba on blood pressure and measures of cardiovascular function.

The researchers found that supplementation with gingko biloba may provide blood pressure benefits especially in response to stress.

They also found that ginkgo biloba may have a beneficial effect on blood flow at the capillary in tissues. The effect was found to depend on individual metabolism, age, ethnicity, and dose.

The researchers believe that the cardiovascular effects are due to ginkgo biloba’s antioxidant properties.

The study was published online ahead of print on December 22, 2022, in the journal Biology.

A previous study found that supplementation with L-citrulline may provide cardiovascular benefits.

article 3Fortified Foods and Supplements May Help Support Liver Health

Functional foods are typically fortified with certain nutrients that may offer health benefits that extend beyond their nutritional value. Some examples include foods fortified with vitamins, minerals, probiotics, or fiber. A new review suggests that certain functional foods and dietary supplements may help support liver health.

For their review, the researchers included data from 29 randomized controlled trials. Participants in the trials included 1,907 adults struggling with liver health. The trials examined the effect of functional foods and dietary supplements including as probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, fatty acids, and vitamin D on liver-related health measures, BMI, waist circumference, and cholesterol levels.

Antioxidants contained in functional foods were found to significantly help waist circumference and LDL-cholesterol. They were also found to help support liver health.

Supplementation with probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics were also found to help waist circumference and improve several biomarkers of liver health.

No association was found between supplementation with fatty acids and vitamin D and liver health support.

The study was conducted by researchers from Zhejiang University. It was published online ahead of print on February 14, 2023 in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition.

Delta-tocotrienol was found to help support liver health in a previous study.

article 4Higher Dietary Intake of Vitamin C May Be Associated With Longer Telomere Length

Telomeres protect the ends of chromosomes from becoming frayed or tangled. Telomeres become slightly shorter each time a cell divides. Shorter telomeres have been associated with higher risk of disease. A new study suggests that higher dietary intake of vitamin C may be associated with longer telomere length.

Participants in the study included 7,094 adults who took part in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. Telomere length was measured using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. A 24-hour dietary intake interview was used to estimate dietary vitamin C intake.

Dietary intake of vitamin C was found to be positively correlated with telomere length. These findings held after accounting for age, gender, race, and body mass index.

The study was conducted by researchers from Guangzhou Medical University. It was published online ahead of print on January 26, 2023, in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition.

In a previous study, omega-3 fatty acids were found to have a beneficial effect on telomere length.

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