INFLUENCE OF GARLIC POWDER ON CUTANEOUS MICROCIRCULATION - A RANDOMIZED PLACEBO-CONTROLLED DOUBLE-BLIND CROSS-OVER STUDY IN APPARENTLY HEALTHY-SUBJECTS

In a randomized placebo-controlled double-blind cross-over study it could be shown that 5 h after the administration of garlic powder (Kwai(R), Sapec(R); total dose of 900 mg garlic powder) a significant increase in capillary skin perfusion by 55 % occurs in the healthy volunteers. Placebo did not cause any changes. The difference between the two study phases is also significant. The increased erythrocyte velocity results from vasodilation of precapillary arterioles which increases diameter of erythrocyte column by an average of 8.6 %. Simultaneously inflow of interstitial fluidity accompanied by a significant decrease in haematocrit and plasma viscosity occurs (rheoregulation).