Garlic Supp. Increases Testicular Testosterone Decreases Plasma Corticosterone Rats..

I am not a scientist, but I found this and was wondering if any of the scientists on the forum had any thoughts about this experiment. More specificially, are there any studies that indicate that high-potency garlic supplements may be beneficial for building muscle and reducing muscle loss in humans? Obviously, eating pounds of garlic powder wouldn't work out so well. I haven't seen the active ingredient referenced in the study available as a supplement. Any thoughts?

[b]Garlic Supplementation Increases Testicular Testosterone and Decreases Plasma Corticosterone in Rats Fed a High Protein Diet [/b]

[url]http://jn.nutrition.org/cgi/content/full/131/8/2150[/url]

ABSTRACT

The effects of garlic supplementation on protein metabolism were investigated by measuring testis testosterone and plasma corticosterone in rats fed diets with different protein levels. In Experiment 1, rats were fed experimental diets with different protein levels (40, 25 or 10 g/100 g casein) with or without 0.8 g/100 g garlic powder. After 28 d of feeding, testosterone contents in the testis were significantly higher and plasma corticosterone concentrations were significantly lower in rats fed 40 and 25% casein diets with garlic powder than in those fed the same diets without garlic powder. Urinary excretion of 17-ketosteroid (an index of testosterone), nitrogen balance and hepatic arginase activity were significantly higher in rats fed the 40% casein diet with garlic powder than in the 40% casein controls. In Experiment 2, the effect of diallyldisulfide (a major volatile sulfur-containing compound in garlic) on the secretion of luteinizing hormone (LH) from the pituitary gland, which regulates testosterone production in the testis, was investigated in anesthetized rats. Plasma LH concentration increased dose dependently after administration of diallyldisulfide (P < 0.01, r = 0.558). These results suggest that dietary supplementation with 0.8 g/100 g garlic alters hormones associated with protein anabolism by increasing testicular testosterone and decreasing plasma corticosterone in rats fed a high protein diet.

INTRODUCTION

Garlic has long been used as a spice and has been reported to possess medicinal and pharmacologic properties. Several studies have indicated that garlic has hypoglycemic, anticoagulative, antihypertensive and hypolipidemic effects (1 2 3 4 5 6) . However, the effects of garlic supplementation on protein metabolism have not been fully clarified. In our previous work, we reported that the supplementation of garlic powder at 0.8 g/100 g to a high fat diet and the administration of diallyldisulfide, a major volatile sulfur-containing compound in garlic, enhanced triglyceride catabolism and growth of interscapular brown adipose tissue (IBAT)2 by increasing noradrenaline secretion in rats (7 ,8) . Recently, we reported that allyl-containing sulfides in garlic increase the uncoupling protein (UCP) content in brown adipose tissue, and noradrenaline and adrenaline secretion in rats (9) . We speculated that garlic may affect whole-body protein metabolism by the stimulation of hormone secretion and that dietary supplementation of garlic may enhance hormone-regulated protein anabolism. Testosterone plays a major role in protein anabolism (10 ,11) . In contrast, glucocorticoid, which is secreted mainly as corticosterone, affects protein catabolism in rats (10) . The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of garlic supplementation on protein metabolism in rats. In particular, we wanted to determine whether garlic supplementation stimulates protein anabolism via regulation by steroid hormones with counterregulatory effects on both protein anabolism and catabolism, i.e., the protein anabolic hormone, testosterone, and the protein catabolic hormone, corticosterone. Furthermore, to better understand the effects of garlic supplementation on protein metabolism, we investigated in anesthetized rats the effects of diallyldisulfide on the secretion of luteinizing hormone (LH) from the pituitary gland, which regulates testosterone production in the testis (12 ,13) .


MATERIALS AND METHODS

Animal care.

Male Sprague-Dawley rats (Japan SLC, Shizuoka, Japan) were housed individually in stainless steel wire-bottom cages in a room maintained at 22?24?C and 50% relative humidity. The room was lit from 0700 to 1900 h. Tap water was freely available. Rats, 4 and 7 wk old, were purchased for use in Experiments 1 and 2, respectively. In Experiment 1, rats were fed a commercial diet (CE-2, Japan, Clea, Tokyo, Japan) for 3 d before starting the experiments, and in Experiment 2, rats were given the commercial diet before starting the experiments. This study was approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Kobe Women?s University, Faculty of Home Economics.

Experiment 1.

The experimental diets were normal fat (5 g/100 g fat) diets with three different protein levels (40, 25 or 10 g/100 g casein), as shown in Table 1 . Rats in the control group were fed 40, 25 or 10% casein (control diet), whereas rats in the garlic group were fed one of these diets supplemented with 8 g of garlic powder/kg diet (garlic diet). The garlic powder was prepared from fresh garlic bulb (Riken Chemical Industry, Kyoto, Japan), which was heat-dried at 60?70?C, and then ground by a mill. Volatile compounds in the garlic powder were analyzed by gas chromatography using diallyldisulfide as a standard (14 ,15) ; their concentrations were determined as diallyldisulfide equivalents (Table 1) . Rats (n = 39) weighing 80?90 g were separated into six groups (control groups, 6 rats; garlic groups, 7 rats) and were fed for 28 d one of the following experimental diets: 40, 25 or 10% casein diets with or without garlic powder. Each group was fed the appropriate diet in amounts such that the six groups consumed an equal amount of metabolizable energy during the experimental period, and that food consumption of each of the six groups was approximately equivalent to the maximal amount (food intake was sufficient for the rats) that rats can consume under these conditions. At the end of the 28 d, the rats were transferred to individual metabolic cages and urine and feces were collected separately for 1 d. To each urine sample obtained during the collection was added 1 mL of 6 mol/L HCl solution to prevent its degradation. After the collection, urinary and fecal nitrogen contents and the nitrogen content in each experimental diet were determined by the semimicro Kjeldahl method, and nitrogen intake was calculated on the basis of the nitrogen content of each experimental diet from the total amount of food consumed. Urinary creatinine content was measured using the method of Clark and Thompson (16) . Urinary 17-ketosteroid (urinary excretion of total amounts of androsterone, etiocholanone, dehydroepiandrosterone, 11-ketoandrosterone, 11-ketoetiocholanone, 11-OH androsterone and 11-OH etiocholanorone) content was determined by the Zimmerman reaction (17) .




View this table:
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Table 1. Composition of experimental diets (Experiment 1)




The rats were anesthetized using -chloralose and urethane (18) , which were purchased from Wako Chemical (Osaka, Japan) and Tokyo Chemical (Tokyo, Japan), respectively. After feeding (at the end of d 29), rats were anesthetized by intraperitoneal injection of -chrolarose and urethane (75 and 750 mg/kg, respectively). Blood samples were collected from the abdominal aorta, and plasma was separated after centrifugation (3000 x g for 15 min) and stored at -40?C until analyzed. After collection of the blood sample, the liver, kidney, perirenal adipose tissues and epididymal fat pad were immediately excised, weighed and stored at -40?C for further analyses. Arginase activity in the liver was determined using the method of Schimke (19 ,20) . Plasma corticosterone concentration was determined using the method of Sagara et al. (21) , i.e., the plasma sample was analyzed by HPLC after the extraction of steroids, as described below. To extract free steroids in the plasma, 10 mL of 0.05% methanol-chloroform and 0.2 mL of 1 mol/L NaOH were added to 1 mL of plasma sample, and the mixture was shaken gently for 20 min. Then, 9 mL of the methanol-chloroform layer was removed without contamination of the emulsion layer. The extract was washed twice with distilled water (2 mL); 8 mL of the methanol-chloroform layer was obtained and evaporated to dryness in a rotary evaporator under continuous suction. The residue was dissolved in absolute methanol. An aliquot of the solution was injected into a chromatograph [Irica HPLC system; detection, UV at 245 nm; flow rate, 0.5 mL/min; column, ODS column RP-18T, 250 x 4.6 mm; mobile phase, H2O/methanol/tetrahydrofuran (36:55:9)]. Each rat testis was homogenized with 1 mL of distilled water and centrifuged at 12,000 x g at 4?C for 30 min (22) . Then the supernatant was separated and steroids were extracted using the same method as in the case of plasma corticosterone. After steroid extraction, the testicular testosterone content was analyzed by HPLC as described above.
In a preliminary experiment concerning the effects of different cholesterol concentrations in two different fats, testosterone content in the testis was compared in rats fed high fat diets (21.21 MJ/kg) containing 30% shortening (0% cholesterol) or lard (0.1% cholesterol). The composition of the shortening and lard diets was described previously (9) . We examined the effects of garlic supplementation (8 g/kg diet) on testicular testosterone content in rats fed these diets for 28 d. Each group of rats was offered the appropriate diet in amounts such that the four groups consumed equal metabolizable energy during the experimental period, and food consumption in all four groups was approximately equivalent to the maximum (food intake was sufficient for the rats) that rats can consume under these conditions. Testicular testosterone content was determined by the same method as in Experiment 1 described above.

Experiment 2.

Rats weighing 250 g were anesthetized as described above; their rectal temperature was maintained between 36.5 and 37.5?C using a direct-current heating pad. Rats (n = 6?7) were used to evaluate the effects of diallyldisulfide in comparison with rats that received vehicle alone (9 g/L NaCl solution containing 2% ethanol and 10% Tween 80). We determined the dose-dependent response with respect to plasma LH concentration after the administration of diallyldisulfide. Diallyldisulfide [88.9%; the remaining compounds were diallylmonosulfide (5.4%) and diallyltrisulfide (5.3%)] was purchased from Tokyo Chemical. For dose-response measurements, each rat received 1 mL of the vehicle containing 10 mmol/L (1.46 mg), 20 mmol/L (2.92 mg) or 30 mmol/L (4.28 mg) diallyldisulfide via injection into the right femoral vein over 1 min. Blood samples were collected from the abdominal aorta after 30 min. In a preliminary experiment, we confirmed that plasma LH concentrations were maximal 30 min after administration. Accordingly, we performed the dose-response measurements and determined plasma LH concentration 30 min after diallyldisulfide administration. Plasma LH concentration was assayed using an enzyme immunoassay kit (rat LH enzyme immunoassay system, Amersham Pharmacia, UK).

In another preliminary experiment concerning the effects of noradrenaline on plasma LH concentration, plasma LH concentration in rats after administration of 5, 10 or 50 mg noradrenaline was examined as described above.

Statistical analysis.

All data are presented as means ? SEM. Statistical analyses were done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS10.0 for Windows; SPSS, Chicago, IL). In Experiment 1, treatment effects (dietary protein levels and garlic supplementation) were analyzed using two-way ANOVA, and the differences between means were tested using Duncan?s multiple range post-hoc test. In Experiment 2, data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA, and significant differences between means were evaluated by the Bonferroni post-hoc test. The correlations between the data of plasma LH concentrations and the administration of diallyldisulfide or noradrenaline for dose response measurements were tested by regression analysis. Differences with P < 0.05 were considered significant.


RESULTS

Experiment 1.

After 28 d of dietary treatment, no significant differences due to garlic were found on body, liver, kidney, testis, perirenal adipose tissue and epididymal fat pad weights, or urinary creatinine (Table 2 ). Urinary nitrogen was significantly lower in the garlic-40% casein diet group than in the control-40% casein diet group (Table 3 ). No differences were observed among groups in fecal nitrogen content (Table 3) . Nitrogen balance was significantly higher in the garlic-40% casein diet group than in the control-40% casein diet group, whereas there were no significant differences between the control diet groups and the garlic diet groups fed 10 and 25% casein diets (Table 3) . Similarly, arginase activity in the liver was significantly higher in the garlic-40% casein diet group than in the control-40% casein diet group, whereas there were no significant differences between the control diet groups and the garlic diet groups fed 10 and 25% casein diets (Table 4 ). Plasma corticosterone concentrations in rats fed all levels of casein were significantly lower in those supplemented with garlic (Fig. 1 ). Testosterone contents in the testis of rats fed either 40 or 25% casein diets were significantly greater in rats supplemented with garlic, whereas there were no significant differences between the control diet group and the garlic diet group fed the 10% casein diet (Fig. 2 ). Urinary 17-ketosteroid levels in rats fed 40% casein diets were significantly greater in those consuming garlic (Fig. 3 ). Furthermore, urinary 17-ketosteroid excretion in rats in the garlic-40% casein diet group was significantly higher than that in the garlic-10% casein diet group (Fig. 3) .

Experiment 2.
Plasma LH concentrations were significantly higher in rats that received 20 or 30 mmol/L diallyldisulfide than in those that received vehicle alone (Table 5 ). The increase was dose dependent, and there was a positive correlation (P < 0.01, r = 0.552) between plasma LH concentration and the dose of diallyldisulfide.

DISCUSSION

Most of the recent knowledge concerning the regulation of protein metabolism in humans has been obtained by tracing protein kinetics in vivo using labeled isotopes of essential or nonessential amino acids (23) . This technique allows the rates of whole-body protein synthesis and breakdown to be estimated together with amino acid oxidation and the fractional synthetic rates of mixed muscle protein or of single plasma proteins (10 ,23) . Protein synthesis rates of tissues (e.g., plasma, tibialis anterior, soleus or liver) in rats in vivo were measured by the flooding dose method, which reduces uncertainty over the labeling of the tracer amino acid in the precursor pool for the protein synthesis (24 25 26) . Broadly speaking, isotopic methods fall into two groups, i.e., those methods based on uptake of isotope into protein which yield information about the rate of protein synthesis and those based on isotope loss from which the rates of both synthesis and breakdown can be determined (27) . For instance, enzymes must have a fast turnover rate so that their concentrations can be rapidly changed by factors that modulate their rates of synthesis or degradation. Among the potential factors that play a role in the regulation of protein metabolism are a number of substrates and hormones. Hormones, by affecting the turnover rates of key proteins, can modulate cell differentiation and growth and direct the flux of substrates through specific metabolic pathways (10 ,23) . Our previous papers indicated that the allyl-containing polysulfides in garlic are responsible for the enhancement of noradrenaline and adrenaline secretion and the increased thermogenesis indicated by the increased UCP content in IBAT (9) . We speculated that garlic may be involved in hormonal secretion. Thus, garlic administration may affect whole-body protein metabolism due to hormonal regulation by stimulating hormone secretion, and dietary supplementation of garlic may affect protein metabolism by enhancing protein anabolism. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of garlic on protein metabolism, particularly to determine the effects of garlic supplementation on the hormonal regulation of protein metabolism by measuring the levels of steroid hormones, i.e., testosterone and corticosterone. The following hormones have been suggested to affect protein metabolism: insulin, growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor I, adrenaline, androgen, estrogen, progesterone, glucagon, glucocorticoid and thyroid hormone (10) . On the basis of their net effects on protein balance (protein synthesis minus protein breakdown) in the entire body, hormones can be classified into two groups as follows: those having a prevalent anabolic action, i.e., insulin, growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor I, adrenaline and androgen (testosterone), and those with a prevalent catabolic action, i.e., glucocorticoids (corticosterone), glucagon and thyroid hormone. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated the effects of garlic administration on testosterone as a protein anabolic hormone and corticosterone as a protein catabolic hormone.
In Experiment 1, the effects of garlic powder supplementation on protein metabolism in rats fed the experimental diet containing different casein levels (40, 25 or 10% casein diet) were investigated. Testicular testosterone content, urinary 17-ketosteroid content, arginase activity in the liver and nitrogen balance were significantly increased in rats after garlic supplementation to the 40% casein diet, whereas plasma corticosterone concentration was significantly decreased in rats after garlic supplementation to the 40 or 25% casein diet. Based on urinary excretion of creatinine data, body muscle mass was not affected by garlic supplementation. However, nitrogen balance data suggested that nitrogen retention in the body was enhanced by garlic supplementation in rats fed a high protein diet. Similarly, hepatic arginase activity data suggested that protein synthesis in the liver was enhanced by garlic supplementation in rats fed a high protein diet. Urinary 17-ketosteroid is an index of steroid hormone secretion, which is derived almost completely from testosterone secretion in the whole body (i.e., an index of testosterone secretion in testis). These results suggest that protein anabolism occurs in rats fed the high protein diet supplemented with garlic. Concerning the effects of garlic on protein metabolism, the different responses to garlic supplementation in rats fed normal-fat diets with different protein levels suggest that protein anabolic effects were induced by the high protein diet (40% casein diet), but not by the low protein diet (10% casein diet). The present study suggests that to induce the protein anabolic effect of garlic supplementation, the protein content in the diet should be high. Therefore, our findings suggest that protein anabolic effects were induced to a greater extent by garlic supplementation in rats fed the high protein experimental diet.

Steroid hormones are produced from cholesterol in mammals. The experimental diets in the present study were normal-fat diets containing 5% corn oil, which is cholesterol free. The testosterone contents in rats fed the 40, 25 or 10% casein diet were not significantly different, whereas the testosterone contents in rats fed the 40% casein diet were significantly increased by garlic supplementation. We speculate that testicular testosterone was derived from the de novo synthesis of cholesterol in the body. Therefore, our data indicate that garlic supplementation enhanced testosterone production in the testis.

LH is a glycoprotein with a molecular weight of 36,000; it is comprised of two subunits ( and ?). LH is termed gonadotrophin and is secreted by basophilic cells of the anterior pituitary gland, called gonadotrophs. It has been reported that LH stimulates Leydig cells in the testis to produce testosterone (12 ,13 ,28) . In Experiment 2, to confirm the protein anabolic effects of garlic, the effects of diallyldisulfide on the secretion of LH from the pituitary gland, which regulates testosterone production in the testis, were investigated in anesthetized rats. In this experiment, plasma LH concentration was directly affected by diallyldisulfides and the intravenous administration of diallyldisulfide corresponded to garlic absorption in blood after oral consumption. The dose of diallyldisulfide (10 mmol/L, 1.46 mg) corresponded to approximately twice the total average amount of garlic consumed per day per rat in Experiment 1; thus, it is considered to be equivalent to the physiologic level of garlic in rats. Therefore, we evaluated the effects of diallyldisulfide on plasma LH concentration to determine specifically the dose-dependent response of plasma LH concentration after diallyldisulfide administration. Diallyldisulfide increased plasma LH concentration, and plasma LH concentration was affected by diallyldisulfide in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that garlic administration increases testosterone production in the testis due to the enhancement of LH secretion from the pituitary gland. Previously, we reported that allyl-containing sulfides in garlic increased noradrenaline and adrenaline secretion levels (7 8 9) . Noradrenaline and adrenaline, which are involved in the secretion of various hormones, play important roles in stimulating hormone secretion. Our results (Table 6 ) suggest that increasing noradrenaline secretion via stimulation by allyl-containing sulfides in garlic enhances LH secretion from the pituitary gland. Therefore, we contend that allyl-containing sulfides in garlic are responsible for the enhancement of LH secretion via stimulation of the pituitary gland by noradrenaline. Garlic supplementation likely increases testicular testosterone content due to the stimulation of LH secretion from the pituitary gland by the increased plasma noradrenaline concentration. The present study suggests that garlic supplementation enhances protein anabolism and suppresses protein catabolism due to hormonal regulation by the stimulation of steroid hormones, leading to greater testis testosterone content and lower plasma corticosterone concentration in rats fed a high protein diet.


FOOTNOTES

2 Abbreviations used: IBAT, interscapular brown adipose tissue; LH, luteinizing hormone; UCP, uncoupling protein.

Manuscript received November 27, 2000. Initial review completed January 4, 2001. Revision accepted May 11, 2001.

Here is a neat page that details the chemistry of various garlic compounds:

[url]http://www.herbalchem.net/GarlicAdvanced.htm[/url]

Here is the part dealing with the Sulfides:

[i]"Transformation Products of Thiosulfinates in Water

In crushed Garlic, the thiosulfinates spontaneously transform into sulfides. The major sulfides formed are diallyl trisulfide, diallyl disulfide and allyl methyl trisulfide.

In steam-distilled Garlic oil, about twenty variations on the sulfides have been identified. The most abundant in commercial brands are diallyl disulfide (~ 26%)*, diallyl trisulfide (~18%), allyl methyl trisulfide (~15%), allyl methyl disulfide (~12%), diallyl tetrasulfide (~8%), allyl methyl tetrasulfide (~6%). The other compounds which are present at concentrations less than 5% are diallyl mono-, penta-, and hexasulfides; allyl methyl mono-, penta- and hexasulfides; dimethyl di-, tri-, tetra-, penta-, and hexasulfides and allyl 1-propenyl di- and trisulfides.3

These compounds have very low water solubility. They are considerably more stable than their parent compounds; the sulfide composition of steam-distilled Garlic oil capsules changes very little over a number of years.

The Garlic sulfides have exhibited antibiotic, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiparasitic, and antithrombotic effects,4 and modulatory effects on hepatic detoxification enzymes.5,6,7 A PubMed search on "garlic sulfide" reveals 287 studies as of 11/2003.



* Weight % of total sulfur compounds in steam-distilled Garlic oil."[/i]

So it seems that diallyl disulfides are the predominant sulfide present in commercial garlic oils. It is hard to find any information on the sulfide content of garlic oil supplements, most of them seem to be standardized for allicin content.

Here is one that does disclose sulfide content:

[i]"Schiff Products
Super Garlic

Supplement Facts
Serving Size 1
Servings Per Container 100 Softgels

Amount Per
Serving % Daily
Value

Calories 10 N/A*

Calories From Fat 10 N/A*

Total Fat 1 Gm 2%

Garlic Oil (Allium Sativum)(Bulb) 30 Mg N/A*

ALLYL SULFIDES 16 Mg N/A* [/i]


So, going by the information on the website listed above, you would get about 4mg of diallyl disulfide from one dose of this supplement.

The text of the rat experiments stated that they injected diallyl disulfide in a secondary experiment that would replicate about twice the daily dosage of garlic the rats were receiving, to my untrained eye the amount they administered directly was 1.46mg, though I could be wrong about that, because they listed the amount as 10 mmol/L first. That would mean a human would need a heck of a lot more than 4mg diallyl disulfide to receive a similar effect, I would assume.

I've probably got everything bonkers and whatnot, just posting some stuff I found. :D

double post

interesting. but people are more cosmetic these days. they might about smelling like garlic too much enjoy its health benefits.

Interesting study.

This may be of interest to you too...
[url]http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=1020001[/url]

It's an active ingredient in Dialene-4.
I've been using Dialene-4 and consuming 1 or 2 teaspoons of garlic powder/day during my contest prep. I'm very pleased with the results.

DPD, would you on this basis recommend that one take garlic supplements to naturally boost testosterone?

[QUOTE=aznxdgnz;68851323]interesting. but people are more cosmetic these days. they might about smelling like garlic too much enjoy its health benefits.[/QUOTE]

Garlic Burps FTL :D

Jokes apart garlics been used for centuries as a health supp. Just chew some fresh cloves if you cant be bothered swallowing pills

[QUOTE=dpd555;68872863]Interesting study.

This may be of interest to you too...
[url]http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=1020001[/url]

It's an active ingredient in Dialene-4.
I've been using Dialene-4 and consuming 1 or 2 teaspoons of garlic powder/day during my contest prep. I'm very pleased with the results.[/QUOTE]

I was under the impression that garlic was removed from Dialene-4.

Here is a company that sells undilluted essential oils. It says that their garlic essential oil has 57-63% diallyl disulfide. I have no idea how you would dose that though. I guess through trial and hopefully not error. lol

[url]http://www.newdirectionsaromatics.com/garlic-essential-oil-p-250.html[/url]

[QUOTE=SSK1903;68882653]DPD, would you on this basis recommend that one take garlic supplements to naturally boost testosterone?[/QUOTE]

It couldn't hurt, but I would not expect "noticeable" results.

[QUOTE=triathelete04;68911393]I was under the impression that garlic was removed from Dialene-4.[/QUOTE]

I just asked Layne Norton that question and you're right. Not sure why they removed it though :confused:

it was so ungodly horribly smelly that there is no way anyone would buy it. Now I know what you are thinking "well just enteric coat it" or "it can't be that bad."

TRUST ME... IT IS! LOL

It would be great if someone made an odorless garlic supplement.

impossible. The molecules responsible for the benefits of garlic are sulfides and thus their stench is inherant of the molecule

super odorless garlic caps...

[url]http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/now/gar.html[/url]

Ive been taking this and there has been no smell issue at all

[QUOTE=newequation;69964403]It would be great if someone made an odorless garlic supplement.[/QUOTE]

I always used GNC's "odorless" with no garlic smell issue.

[QUOTE=Hardbody316;69970963]super odorless garlic caps...

[url]http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/now/gar.html[/url]

Ive been taking this and there has been no smell issue at all[/QUOTE]

That means they removed or greatly reduced the Diallyl Disulfide, which is what raised testosterone and reduced corticosterone levels in rats...

[QUOTE=bigmanwalking;69976353]That means they removed or greatly reduced the Diallyl Disulfide, which is what raised testosterone and reduced corticosterone levels in rats...[/QUOTE]

exactly. garlic extract doesn't smell that bad because the compounds that cause the smell are dilute. Unfortunately the diallyl sulfide & other disulfides are what CAUSE THE EFFECTS WE WANT and so they are dilute as well... ie you'd have to take 100 caps of garlic extract per day to get the benefits. If it doesn't stink to high hell... it isn't concentrated with diallyl disulfides

Quite often I will take a daily dose of some garlic cloves.

I'm pretty sure the article is true.


Along with chopped up fresh Ginger. I pop it like pills.


Sometimes some Ginseng... not too much.... it'll buzz your brain.

i've taken garlic pills because they were on offer and i heard they boosted your white cell count haha. good to know it's gonna make me more manly

looks like I'm chewing cloves...

Will someone just do a human study already

Sometimes I think If I was a rat I would be better off, at least I would know what to buy and what works!

I took a garlic supp while I was stationed in Korea and did not notice any problems with burps, odor, etc. It did however, keep the mosquitoes from eating me up, which is why I took it. I was not aware of the other benefits at the time.

If you check one of my earlier posts, I posted a link to a company that sells Garlic essential oil with ~50-60% Diallyl Disulfide.

No idea how you would dose it to replicate the dosage in the study though. You'd apparently smell pretty bad, too, since they say a drop of it will stink up your whole house.

In my experience eating garlic has similar antioxidant properties to green tea extract. I can definitely tell when I do intense cardio.

[QUOTE=Chrome Face;70345693]In my experience eating garlic has similar antioxidant properties to green tea extract. I can definitely tell when I do intense cardio.[/QUOTE]

could you explain what you mean?

may kill two birds ...

I came across a recipe for baked chicken in which you stuff
over 30 cloves of garlic into the damn chicken ... it turns out
that while there is still 'garlicky' smell and taste, the pungency
is not that bad ...

don't know if the baking kills the good stuff or whether its
somehow now contained in the chicken meat, but damn
does it taste good!

for a real kick, scrape out the baked garlic and mix with
mashed potatoes!

mmmmmmmmmmm....

here's one recipe: [url]http://www.post-gazette.com/food/19990509greenbrier2a.asp[/url]