Estimation of the Combined Effect of Garlic and Moderate Exercise on Lung Function in Healthy Overweight Adult Human Subjects with no History of Respiratory Defects

Abstract

Overweight is a condition that reduces lung function. Dietary supplementation of garlic significantly improves pulmonary functions. Physical activity on the one hand positively affects lung function. Hence, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of garlic and exercise on the lung function in twenty (20) Healthy overweight adult human subjects, with no history of respiratory defects using standard measurements techniques of Forced vital capacity; Forced expiratory flow 25-75% and Forced expiration volume in 1 second. Data obtained show that the Baseline [FVC (2.961 ± 0.133), FEV1 (2.910 ± 0.134), PEFR (6.595 ± 0.427), FEF25-75% (4.439 ± 0.217)]; Garlic only [FVC (2.803 ± 0.138*), FEV1 (2.761 ± 0.136*), PEFR (6.660 ± 0.367), FEF25-75% (4.772 ± 0.254*) and Garlic + Exercise [FVC (2.777 ± 0.127), FEV1 (2.739 ± 0.123*), PEFR (6.902 ± 0.407), FEF25-75% (4.825 ± 0.239**)] provided an impressive outcomes. From the result, the subject’s FVC, FEV₁were significantly reduced following garlic intake, their PEFR remained unchanged and their FEF25-75% was significantly increased. In conclusion, raw garlic may reduce lung function on the short term in the first 2-3hrs of ingestion in overweight subjects as revealed in this study. The combined effect of garlic and exercise may not have any significant effect different from the result garlic alone would have in overweight subjects.