How does garlic exert its hypocholesterolaemic action? The tellurium hypothesis.

Abstract

The efficacy of garlic as a lipid-lowering agent is being increasingly recognized, but the biochemical mechanisms underlying this action are currently unknown. It is proposed that organic tellurium compounds, which are found in high concentration in fresh garlic buds, may contribute to this action by inhibiting squalene epoxidase, the penultimate enzyme in the synthetic pathway of cholesterol. Weanling rats fed a diet rich in tellurium develop a demyelinating polyneuropathy due to inhibition of this enzyme in peripheral nerves. Chronic exposure to small amounts of tellurium found in garlic might reduce endogenous cholesterol production through inhibition of hepatic squalene epoxidase and so reduce cholesterol levels. Tellurium may also contribute to the characteristic odour of garlic since the most obvious clinical sign of tellurium poisoning is a garlic-like odour.

• Authors: A J Larner
• Journal: Medical hypotheses (Med Hypotheses) Vol. 44 Issue 4 Pg. 295-7 (Apr 1995) ISSN: 0306-9877 [Print] United States
• PMID: 7666832 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Anticholesteremic Agents
• Oxygenases
• Squalene Monooxygenase
• Tellurium

Topics

• Animals
• Anticholesteremic Agents
• Demyelinating Diseases (chemically induced, physiopathology, prevention & control)
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Drug Administration Schedule
• Garlic (chemistry)
• Humans
• Liver (enzymology)
• Models, Biological
• Oxygenases (antagonists & inhibitors)
• Peripheral Nervous System Diseases (chemically induced, physiopathology, prevention & control)
• Plants, Medicinal
• Rats
• Squalene Monooxygenase
• Tellurium (analysis, pharmacology, toxicity)