Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies
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Focus Alternat Complement Ther©2005 Pharmaceutical Press
Focus Altern Complement Ther 1997; 2: 193
To discuss and review recent research evidence and determine whether long-term garlic tablet supplementation may help in the prevention and control of elevated lipid levels and atherosclerosis.
Relevant studies were retrieved through a Medline search and manual literature searching.
One study in 101 healthy adults taking ≥300mg/day standardised garlic powder for ≥ 2 years with 101 age- and sex-matched control subjects were measured for changes in aortic stiffness by pulse wave velocity (PWV) and pressure standardised elastic vascular resistance (EVR). It has been established that aortic stiffness increases naturally with age but in cardiovascular disease, stiffness is increased. Blood pressures, heart rate and plasma lipid levels were similar in the two groups. PWV and EVR were lower in the garlic group than in the control group. With any increase in age or systolic blood pressure, PWV increased less in the garlic group than the control group. The garlic related effects may be mediated by nitric oxide synthase activation and subsequent restoration of impaired endothelium function. In a similar long term garlic study where plaque volumes were measured in both carotid and femoral arteries during and after long term garlic powder supplementation, preliminary results suggest a significant reduction in plaque growth.
Compelling data strongly support the hypothesis that chronic garlic intake has beneficial effects in the prevention and control of atherosclerosis.
