Garlic Does NOT Lower Cholesterol Levels in Patients with Moderately High LDL Levels
For all the other benefits that garlic has been shown to have — anti cancer and anti-bacterial, to name a few– one of the more popular applications that garlic supplements are being sold for is to help reduce cholesterol levels. However, clinical data on the effect of garlic consumption on such have been inconclusive. According to a new study, garlic does NOT appear to offer benefit in patients with moderately high LDL levels (130 to 190 milligrams per deciliter).
Forty-nine participants were randomly assigned to receive raw garlic, 47 to take a powdered garlic supplement, 48 to take an aged garlic supplement and 48 to take placebo. The amount of garlic consumed in the three garlic groups was the equivalent of an average-sized garlic clove each day, six days per week.
There were no statistically significant effects of the three forms of garlic on LDL cholesterol concentrations. Levels of other types of cholesterol—including high-density lipoprotein (HDL or “good” cholesterol), triglycerides and total cholesterol/high density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio—also remained the same. No serious adverse events occurred, although bad body and breath odor were reported to occur often or almost always by 28 participants (57 percent) in the raw garlic group.
Ugh.
On the other hand, the authors said that although garlic doesn’t seem to be effective in this subset of patients with moderately high LDL, garlic might benefit those with higher LDL concentrations. Indeed, the accompanying editorial in the Archives of Internal Medicine, where the above study was published, these results mentioned above do not demonstrate that garlic has no usefulness in the prevention of cardiovascular disease. Pity that I don’t have access to the whole text, though, so I can’t elaborate. :(
Tags: cardiovascular-disease, diet, functional-food, garlic, garlic-supplements, health, health-food, Healthy Eating, healthy-diet, heart-health, LDL, nutraceuticals, nutrition, ~CancerRelated Stories
POSTED IN: ~Antimicrobial/Antibiotic, ~Cancer, ~Cardiovascular Health, ~Dietary Supplements, ~Spices, Herbs and Condiments
5 opinions for Garlic Does NOT Lower Cholesterol Levels in Patients with Moderately High LDL Levels
Kristen King
Feb 27, 2007 at 4:53 pm
You know, I had no idea that garlic was purported to lower cholesterol until I read this post. I’m still psyched about the antibacterial angle, though.
ruth
Feb 28, 2007 at 3:03 am
Kristen, next time you see a garlic supplement in the drugstore, take a peek on the label. Most likely there’d be some reference to lowering blood cholesterol in there. I know a few who use it as a kind of prophylactic, although now I’m not so sure it’s helping them.
Maybe we should ask Hsien of A Hearty Life…
S.
Feb 28, 2007 at 4:04 pm
Since my cholesterol level tests 11 to 14 since beginning testing 18 years ago, I will continue to have slivers of raw garlic on my sandwiches, salads, and Asian soups. Yum.
Garlic: Crushed and Lightly Baked is Best
Oct 10, 2007 at 8:14 pm
[…] I moved to Asia, I’ve been using it more and more. It’s not only documented to help reduce cholesterol levels, it has also shown some antibacterial and anti-cancer […]
Garlic: Crushed and Lightly Baked is Best
Oct 10, 2007 at 8:14 pm
[…] I moved to Asia, I’ve been using it more and more. It’s not only documented to help reduce cholesterol levels, it has also shown some antibacterial and anti-cancer […]
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