The Effect of Garlic Supplementation on Aerobic Performance in Non-athlete Men

Long-term endurance training improves the rheological parameters during the rest and exercise time. Increased blood fluidity as a result of consuming garlic can boost these beneficial effects, and therefore, can increase endurance performance. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of consuming garlic supplement on aerobic performance in non-athlete men. 20 healthy, non-athlete men were randomly selected and divided into two groups: supplement (mean age, 24.2 ± 1.2 years) or placebo (mean age, 23.6 ± 2.1 years). Subjects in both groups completed the Cooper Test. Then one group received garlic supplement (in the form of capsules, 500 mg, Nature Made, America) (n=10), and the other group received placebo ((in the form of capsules, 500 mg of glucose) (n=10). Next they were asked to take capsules after each breakfast and dinner for 7 days. On the eighth day, the subjects performed the Cooper Test again. In order to analysis the data, the researcher used t-test. In all tests, the significance level was considered as p < 0.05. The results showed that means of subject's running distance of the two groups before supplementation were not significantly different (p=0.91) But after taking garlic supplements or placebo for 7 days, a significant difference was observed (p=0.007) as well as, Supplementation with garlic supplements for 7 days resulted in a significant difference in peak oxygen consumption compared with that of the placebo group (p=0.007). In conclusion, according to the findings of this study, it seems short-term consumption of garlic has a significant effect on aerobic performance in non-athlete men.