Preventing the common cold with a garlic supplement: a double-blind, placebo-controlled survey.
One hundred forty-six volunteers were randomized to receive a placebo or an allicin-containing garlic supplement, one capsule daily, over a 12-week period between November and February. They used a five-point scale to assess their health and recorded any common cold infections and symptoms in a daily diary. The active-treatment group had significantly fewer colds than the placebo group (24 vs 65, P < .001). The placebo group, in contrast, recorded significantly more days challenged virally (366 vs 111, P < .05) and a significantly longer duration of symptoms (5.01 vs 1.52 days, P < .001). Consequently, volunteers in the active group were less likely to get a cold and recovered faster if infected. Volunteers taking placebo were much more likely to get more than one cold over the treatment period. An allicin-containing supplement can prevent attack by the common cold virus.
Josling
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Garlic Centre, Battle, East Sussex, United Kingdom.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003139:Common Cold / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004220:Disulfides; D005260:Female; D005737:Garlic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011336:Probability; D012016:Reference Values; D013441:Sulfinic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D004220:Disulfides; D013441:Sulfinic Acids; C006452:allicin