ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to determine the effect of short-term garlic extract supplementation on serum total antioxidant capacity [TAC], malondiadehyde [MDA] and total peripheral leukocyte counts in athlete men after a single episode of aerobic exercise. In this randomized double blind study, sixteen untrained men [age range 23 +/- 3 years, body fat 14 +/- 2%, and VO[2max] 48 +/- 3 ml/kg/min] were divided into two equal groups: supplement group [700mg/day garlic extract] and placebo group [700mg/day dextrose]. After supplementation period [14 days], all the subjects participated in aerobic exercise protocol with 75% VO[2]max on the treadmill for 30 minutes. Blood samples were collected at the baseline, after supplementation period and after aerobic exercise. Using SPSS software, data were analyzed by repeated measure ANOVA, Bonferroni method and independent t-test. The results showed that short-term garlic extract supplementation 14 days before exercise led to significant increase in serum TAC[P<0.05]. Moreover, MDA and total peripheral leukocyte counts significantly increased but TAC significantly decreased after a 30 min aerobic exercise [P<0.05]. However, change range in the oxidative and inflammatory indices in the placebo group was significantly more than that in the supplement group [P<0.05]. Our results suggested that the increase of resting total antioxidative capacity following short-term garlic supplementation can decrease undesirable effects of the indecies of exercise-induced oxidative damages [Lipid Peroxidation] and inflammation [Leukocytosis] in athlete men.