How to Purchase Allicin

Allicin is an active compound found in garlic.

Garlic, a common yet potent cooking ingredient, is helpful not only to ward off vampires, as the legends say. One of the active ingredients in garlic called allicin has promising health benefits.

Health Benefits

Allicin helps to maintain cardiovascular health.

Allicin is believed to relieve negative symptoms common in upper respiratory tract infections, lower blood lipids, help with cardiovascular health, and display antioxidant and antibiotic properties.

Preparations

Allicin is available in supplements and tinctures, as well as fresh.

The concentration of allicin varies depending on whether it is coming from a fresh garlic bulb, made up of cloves, dried garlic powder, garlic paste, dried bulbs, garlic infusions, fluid extracts, and tinctures. To benefit the most from the allicin found in fresh garlic, the garlic must be crushed and eaten raw.

Dosage

Adults are recommend a maximum of 12 garlic bulbs per day.

The recommend dose of allicin per day depends on your age group. Health Canada recommends that people 14 years and older take a minimum of 1mg per day and a maximum of 12 mg per day. Adolescents aged 10 to14 are recommended a minimum 0.5mg per day and a maximum of 6 mg per day. Children aged 5 to 9 are recommended a minimum of 0.25mg per day and a maximum of 3 mg per day. Children aged 2 to 4 are recommended a minimum of .17mg per day and a maximum of 2 mg per day.

If you are looking to obtain the recommended dosage of allicin from fresh garlic, Health Canada recommends that adults eat a minimum of 0.5 bulb per day and a maximum of 12 bulbs per day. Adolescents aged 10 to 14 are recommended a minimum 0.2 bulbs per day and a maximum of six bulbs per day. Children aged 5 to 9 are recommended a minimum of 0.1 bulbs per day and a maximum of 3 bulbs per day. Children aged 2 to 4 years are recommended a minimum of 0.08 bulbs per day and a maximum of two bulbs per day.

Breastfeeding women can follow the same dose recommendations as adults.

If you plan to take allicin supplements or tinctures, follow the dosage recommended by the manufacturer.

Purchasing

Fresh garlic is available at any grocery store.

Allicin can be purchased in any grocery store in the form of fresh garlic, garlic powder or paste. A head of garlic, containing 10-12 bulbs, will costs around $1 and provide one adult the minimum dose recommended for about one week. Supplements can be purchased at vitamin stores or online. Costs will range anywhere between $7 to $60, depending on the type of preparation. Be aware that some online stores will only be legally allowed to ship supplements within their country.

Risks

Contact your health care provider if you have an adverse reaction.

If you are pregnant, diabetic, taking blood thinners or protease inhibitors, contact your health care provider to discuss the use of allicin. It is also recommend to discontinue use and contact your health care practitioner if conditions worsen or allergies begin upon ingesting allicin.

Recommendations

Read the Supplement Facts label to determine the ingredients.

When purchasing supplements, be sure to read the "Supplement Facts" label on the product to determine the ingredients that you will be taking.

In Canada, be sure that your supplement has a Natural Health Product, or NHP, number which indicates that the product has met the product licensing laws in Canada.

References

• Mills S, Bone K. 2000. Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy. Toronto (ON): Churchill Livingstone.
• Kojuri J, Vosoughi A, Akrami M. 2007. Effects of anethum graveolens and garlic on lipid profile in hyperlipidemic patients. Lipids in Health and Disease 6(5):1476-1511.
• Henning, S.M., Zhang, Y., Seeram, N.P., Lee, R, Wang, P. (2010) Antioxidant capacity and phytochemical content of herbs and spices in dry, fresh and blended herb paste form. Int J Food Sci Nutr, Early Online 1-7.
• Health Canada: Natural Health Product Monograph: Garlic