Journal of Clinical Toxicology
Open Access

Abstract

Benefic Interactive Effects between Garlic Consumption and Serum Iron Excess

Hela Ghorbel, Ines FKI, Choumous Kalel, Jamoussi Kamel and Sami Sayadi

Hemochromatosis is the most common form of iron overload disease. In case of pathological serum iron increase, kidney is the first organ directly affected. Moreover, anemia is the major symptom of most cases of kidney failure and oxidative stress is thought to be a significant factor in the pathogenesis of iron-overload disease. Garlic, was recently demonstrated as inhibitor of intestinal iron absorption. The purpose of this study was to show that crude garlic consumption in case of serum iron increase could prevents biochemical and histological kidney perturbations and ameliorates hematological parameters. For this, four groups of young rats were treated for forty five days: control group C, iron overload group I, garlic overload group G and both garlic and iron overload group IG. In iron treated rats (group I) all haematological parameters showed a decrease. Moreover, kidneys showed a significant increase in protein and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations associated to total antioxidant capacity important decrease and deep histological changes. For group G rats, we had found a significant decrease in red blood cells and hemoglobin concentrations and in the kidney an important increase in total antioxidant capacity and in creatinine levels. After association between iron and garlic consumption (group IG) we had found positive interactive effects and important regulation of all modified parameters. In conclusion, for a great part of its effects, garlic protects from iron increase problems and could have important clinical relevance in case of hemochromatosis disease.