Document Detail


The role of garlic in hepatopulmonary syndrome: a randomized controlled trial.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  20352147     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
BACKGROUND: Increased nitric oxide production in cirrhosis has been commonly implicated in the genesis of hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS). Initial studies suggested that garlic, a constituent of the daily diet, may have a role in the treatment of HPS by altering nitric oxide production.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of oral garlic supplementation on arterial blood gas parameters, and overall morbidity and mortality in patients with HPS.
METHODS: Twenty-one and 20 HPS patients were randomly assigned to receive either oral garlic supplementation or placebo, respectively, and were evaluated monthly over a period of nine to 18 months.
RESULTS: After nine months, garlic supplementation was associated with a 24.66% increase in baseline arterial oxygen levels (83.05 mmHg versus 66.62 mmHg; P<0.001), compared with only a 7.37% increase (68.75 mmHg versus 64.05 mmHg; P=0.02) among subjects in the placebo group. There was also a 28.35% decrease in alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient (21.35 mmHg versus 29.77 mmHg; P<0.001) among patients with HPS who received garlic, in contrast with only a 10.73% decrease (29.11 mmHg versus 32.61 mmHg; P=0.12) among those in the placebo group. After nine months, the arterial oxygen level was significantly higher (83.05 mmHg versus 68.75 mmHg; P<0.001) and the alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient was significantly lower (21.35 mmHg versus 29.11 mmHg; P<0.001) among patients receiving garlic compared with those receiving placebo. Reversal of HPS was observed in 14 of 21 patients (66.67%) on garlic supplementation (intent-to-treat analysis) and in one of 20 patients (5%) on placebo. Two of 21 patients undergoing garlic supplementation died during follow-up in contrast to seven of 20 patients who were on placebo.
CONCLUSIONS: Garlic supplementation may be beneficial in patients with HPS for the reversal of intrapulmonary shunts as well as reducing hypoxemia and mortality.
Authors:
Binay K De; Deep Dutta; Subrata K Pal; Subhabrata Gangopadhyay; Sumanta Das Baksi; Adyapad Pani
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Randomized Controlled Trial    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Canadian journal of gastroenterology = Journal canadien de gastroenterologie     Volume:  24     ISSN:  0835-7900     ISO Abbreviation:  Can. J. Gastroenterol.     Publication Date:  2010 Mar 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-03-30     Completed Date:  2010-05-04     Revised Date:  2011-07-25    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8807867     Medline TA:  Can J Gastroenterol     Country:  Canada    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  183-8     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, Medical College Calcutta, India. binaykde@hotmail.com
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Administration, Oral
Adult
Anoxia / drug therapy,  etiology
Blood Gas Analysis
Double-Blind Method
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Garlic / chemistry*
Hepatopulmonary Syndrome / drug therapy*,  mortality,  physiopathology
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Oxygen / metabolism
Phytotherapy / methods*
Young Adult
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
7782-44-7/Oxygen
Comments/Corrections

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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