Research

May 2006

Beating bugs with garlic

Scientists and clinicians from the University of Nottingham and the City Hospital Campus are joining forces in a new pilot study to see if garlic can help cystic fibrosis (CF) patients to battle potentially fatal infections.

Garlic is believed to have beneficial effects on the heart and may help to fight infection. The research team, led by Dr Alan Smyth, has discovered that garlic may have a specific effect on Pseudomonas, a germ which causes chronic lung infections in patients with CF.

The study aims to see if garlic capsules will ‘scramble’ the germ’s communication system and stop Pseudomonas from developing.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an inherited condition which affects one in every 2,500 newborn babies. There are approximately 7,000 individuals with CF in the UK, approximately half of whom are adults. CF causes difficulties in digesting food and children may be slow to put on weight and grow properly. Both children and adults with the condition are vulnerable to repeated and chronic chest infections which damage the lungs, and which may ultimately be fatal.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is particularly likely to cause chronic infection. Current treatments aim to eradicate it when it first appears, although most patients with CF develop chronic infection with Pseudomonas eventually.

When the infection has become established it may be suppressed with antibiotic nebulisers. However, these are time-consuming (given twice a day, every day, for life) and even with this approach, frequent hospital admissions for more intensive treatment are often necessary.

The research team plan to study the effect of garlic capsules on CF patients by randomly giving 15 patients garlic capsules and 15 patients a placebo (olive oil capsules). Neither the patient nor the doctor will know which has been given. Patients will take the medication for two months. At the beginning and end of the study, researchers will measure the levels of germs in patients’ sputum samples, the patients’ lung function and weight will be monitored and blood tests carried out to ensure the garlic capsules are safe.

The pilot study will be funded by the Trust and the University of Nottingham, and Boots the Chemist has agreed to supply the garlic capsules.