Garlic promotes acute blood pressure reduction but does not enhance the postexercise hypotensive effect

BACKGROUND: Garlic seems to have an influence on blood pressure levels, but the behavior of post-exercise blood pressure after garlic intake is not well established, therefore the present study evaluated the effect of aged garlic ex-tract (AGE) on the hypotensive response to an exercise session. METHODS: Fifteen hypertensive (49.1 +/- 1.2 years), participated in cross-over model performing sessions of aerobic exercise with duration of 60 min., with ingestion of AGE (750 mg) (EX+AGE), placebo (EX+PL) and two sessions with-out exercise, one with intake of AGE and other control. Blood pressure (BP) were performed at rest, after exercise and every 10 min during 60 min after exercise or similar moment in the session without exercise. Malondialdehyde and nitrite were measured before and after experimental procedures. RESULTS: Significant reduction of systolic BP in relation to rest values at 60 minutes post exercise: EX+AGE (from 123.9 +/- 3.5 mmHg to 115.7 +/- 3.8 mmHg) (P<0.05), EX+PL (from 119.6 +/- 3.7 mmHg to 110.9 +/- 4.2 mmHg) (P<0.05), AGE procedure (119.2 +/- 8.4 mmHg to 109.2 +/- 8.1 mmHg) (P 0.05) and control (121.6 +/- 3.1 mmHg to 118 +/- 4.3 mmHg) (P 0.05). No difference between EX+AGE versus EX+PL and between sessions with exercise and with only garlic intake (P>0.05). Diastolic BP, malondialdehyde and nitrite also showed no significant changes (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Both garlic and exercise promoted a reduction in systolic BP 60 minutes after the procedure, with-out the participation of oxidative stress; but garlic did not enhance the hypotensive effect of physical exercise.