Effect of short-term garlic supplementation on CD4 and CD8 factors in young karate athletes after intense exercise session

Intense exercise leads to a decrease in immune system. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of short-term garlic extract supplementation on some cellular immune system factors after intense exercise in karate athletes.
Eighteen young men (with a mean age of 20.07±4.46, BMI 22.72±2.99 kg/m2) volunteered to participate in this semi-experimented. After completing consent forms, they were randomly placed in two homogeneous groups: experimental and placebo. Participants performed GXT after supplementation period. Blood samples were collected before, after supplementation and immediately after intense exercise test. Level of CD8 and CD4 factors assessed by flow cytometry-based separate kits and the proportion CD4 to CD8 was calculated. The research data were analyzed using a repeated measurement and Bonferroni for within-group evaluation and t test in depended was used to perform the between-group analysis.
significant increase in CD4, CD8 and the proportion CD4 to CD8 from pretest to midtest step for experimental group (p=0.03,p=0.023,p=0.047), but was not observed any significant difference for placebo group(p>0.05). Decrease in CD4, CD8 value and the proportion CD4 to CD8 for two groups in posttest, but placebo group experienced significantly more decrease compared to experimental group (p=0.00, p=0.04, p=0.005).
using garlic extract supplementation for a period of time promoted cellular immune system of karate athletes, so their immune system performance weakened less after intensive exercise.