Effects of Garlic Supplement on Dialysis Efficiency, Serum Albumin, Parathyroid Hormone, Calcium, Phosphorus and C-reactive Protein and Blood Lipid Profile in Chronic Hemodialysis Patients: A double-Blind Randomized Clinical Trial

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Chronic kidney failure is one of the most important health problems around worldwide and due to its increasing prevalence, care of these patients is a challenge for nations. Several interventions have been carried out to improve health condition and treatment efficiency of these patients. In recent years, use of herbal medicines such as garlic products has been interested by researchers due to their higher effectiveness and lesser side effects. The present study was carried out with the aim of investigating effects of garlic supplement on dialysis efficiency (KT/V index), serum levels of albumin, parathyroid hormone, calcium, phosphorus, C-reactive protein and blood lipid profile in chronic hemodialysis patients. Materials & Methods: This study was a double-blind randomized clinical trial that was carried out on 81 chronic kidney failure patients with hemodialysis in Khorshid and Amin hospitals, Isfahan, Iran. Patients were treated for 8 w with garlic tablets containing 500 mg of garlic powder (2 mg of allicin), two tablets after launch. After the 8 w of intervention, all variables were re-recorded. Results: Based on the findings, consumption of garlic tablets was effective in end-stage renal disease patients with chronic hemodialysis by increasing dialysis adequacy (KT/V index) (p = 0.001), serum albumin (p = 0.001), serum calcium (p = 0.000), serum phosphorus (p = 0.031) and serum low-density lipoprotein (p = 0.000) and by decreasing serum C-reactive protein (p = 0.000), serum low-density lipoprotein (p = 0.000), serum cholesterol (p = 0.005) and serum triglyceride (p = 0.000). However, no significant difference was seen in serum parathyroid hormone of the patients (p=0.833). Conclusion:: Daily consumption of 1000 mg of garlic was effective in improving dialysis adequacy and serum levels of albumin, calcium, phosphorus, cholesterol, triglycerides, C-reactive protein, low-density lipoprotein and high-density lipoprotein in chronic kidney patients with chronic hemodialysis. However, no effects were reported on the serum levels of parathyroid hormone. © 2024, National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute. All rights reserved.