Garlic
Chemistry
Garlic contains many compounds that individually possess a wide range of
beneficial effects. One of the most biologically active is allicin, which also
provides garlic's distinct odor. However, allicin itself is not present in an
intact garlic clove. It is formed when a clove is crushed, releasing the
precursor alliin and the
enzyme allinase, which then come together to
form allicin. Several well designed, robust studies have demonstrated allicin's
health supportive benefits.
While allicin from fresh
garlic has very high bioavailability, its
strong odor can be problematic. Garlic odor is not merely present in breath
after its consumption, it is also released through the pores of the skin, often
persisting for hours or days afterwards.
The compounds in garlic
have variable stability. Allinase is easily inactivated by gastric acid and
allicin is fairly unstable prior to absorption in the bloodstream. Therefore, it
is crucial that alliin and allinase taken in dietary supplements are introduced
into the body where they can effectively create allicin.
Garlic Supplement
Disparities
Currently, there are several types of garlic supplements, including garlic oil,
garlic powder, and aged garlic extract (AGE) products. Garlic oil supplements do
not contain allicin, only allicin-derived compounds that have little beneficial
effects at normal levels of garlic consumption. Softgel or hard shell capsulated
garlic powder supplements that contain alliin and allinase are destroyed by
gastric acid before they can create allicin and have minimal health supportive
activity.
Aged garlic extract
products purposefully do not contain allicin. Disregarding the abundance of
evidence that demonstrates the significance of allicin, the manufacturers of AGE
supplements claim that other compounds are responsible for garlic's health
supportive properties. Some studies have demonstrated that AGE supplements may
have limited benefit. However, because AGE manufacturers sponsored these studies
and their findings have yet to be replicated, leading garlic researchers
question the validity of these findings. To date, the scientific consensus
contends that allicin obtained from enteric-coated garlic tablets provides the
most significant health supportive benefit.
Allicin Research
Several studies have demonstrated allicin's health supportive benefits. Allicin
acts as an antioxidant and helps support
cardiovascular health. Allicin supports healthy immune system function,
including support of healthy immune cell activation. Allicin supports healthy
gastrointestinal function, especially support of healthy gastrointestinal
mucosal lining.
Garlinase 4000
The patented Swiss process makes Garlinase 4000 truly unique among garlic
supplements. When Garlinase 4000 tablets are swallowed, the enteric
coating resists disintegration until it reaches the alkaline environment of the
small intestine. There the Garlinase 4000 tablet dissolves releasing
alliin and allinase to form allicin, which is slowly released over a long period
of time and absorbed into the bloodstream. The slow release of Garlinase 4000
in the small intestine also provides the superior health benefits of fresh
garlic, but without garlic's distinct, and sometimes offensive, odor.
