Garlic Shows Promise for Improving Some Cardiovascular Risk Factors

Top Cited Papers
Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
AMERICAN CONSUMER use of complementary and alternative medicine is escalating rapidly. Out-of-pocket expenditures for herbal therapies are estimated at more than $5 billion per year in the United States alone.1 Garlic (Allium sativum) is clearly one of the most popular herbal remedies worldwide today. Animal studies suggest that garlic has potential antilipidemic, antihypertensive, antiglycemic, antithrombotic, and antiatherogenic properties.2-7 Although some small studies in humans corroborate the findings of animal studies, the results are often conflicting.5,8-14 Several previous reviews summarize trials in humans, but they cite different original studies, emphasize single cardiovascular factors (eg, lipid levels or hypertension only), and provide variable attention to specific garlic preparations and constituents.15-21