Effect of garlic (Allium sativum) on blood lipids, blood sugar, fibrinogen and fibrinolytic activity in patients with coronary artery disease. Effect of garlic on lipid profile and psychopathologic parameters in people with mild to moderate hypercholesterolemia. On the effect of garlic on plasma lipids and lipoproteins in mild hypercholesterolaemia. Garlic powder, effect on plasma lipids, postprandial lipemia, low-density lipoprotein particle size, high-density lipoprotein subclass distribution and lipoprotein(a). Gender may affect the action of garlic oil on plasma cholesterol and glucose levels of normal subjects. Effect of garlic on blood lipids in patients with coronary heart disease. The effect of a garlic preparation on plasma lipid levels in moderately hypercholesterolemic adults. Effect of garlic powder on C-reactive protein and plasma lipids in overweight and smoking subjects. The effect of a garlic preparation on the composition of plasma lipoproteins and erythrocyte membranes in geriatric subjects. Effect of garlic and fish-oil supplementation on serum lipid and lipoprotein concentrations in hypercholesterolemic men. Lack of efficacy of dried garlic in patients with hyperlipoproteinemia. Effect of raw garlic vs commercial garlic supplements on plasma lipid concentrations in adults with moderate hypercholesterolemia: a randomized clinical trial. A pilot study of garlic consumption shows no significant effect on markers of oxidation or sub-fraction composition of low-density lipoprotein including lipoprotein(a) after allowance for non-compliance and the placebo effect. Hypocholesterolemic Effect of an Enteric-Coated Garlic Supplement A randomized trial of the effects of garlic oil upon coronary heart disease risk factors in trained male runners Effects of garlic on dyslipidemia in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Effect of garlic (Allium sativum) powder tablets on serum lipids, blood pressure and arterial stiffness in normo-lipidaemic volunteers: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
Thirty patients with coronary artery disease ( CAD ) were administered garlic ( study group ) while another 30 patients received the  placebo ( control group )  . Various risk parameters were determined at 1.5 and 3 months of garlic administration . Garlic , administered in a daily dose of 2 x 2 capsules ( each capsule containing ethyl acetate extract from 1 g peeled and crushed raw garlic ) , reduced significantly total serum cholesterol and triglycerides , and increased significantly HDL-cholesterol and fibrinolytic activity . There was no effect on the fibrinogen and glucose levels . In vitro effects of the garlic oil on platelet aggregation ( PAg ) and eicosanoid metabolism were examined ; it inhibited PAg induced by several platelet agonists , and also platelet thromboxane formation . Two important paraffinic polysulphides - diallyl disulphide ( DADS ) and diallyl trisulphide ( DATS ) - derived from garlic and are usual constituents of garlic oil , showed antiplatelet activity , and also inhibited platelet thromboxane formation . In this respect DATS was more potent than DADS .  The nature of inhibition of PAg by DATS was found to be reversible BACKGROUND The beneficial effect of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutyaryl co-enzyme A reductase inhibitors on cardiovascular risk reduction has been clearly established . Concerns have been raised that lowering blood cholesterol by other hypolipidemic drugs or by a non-pharmacologic approach may have deleterious effects on psychopathologic parameters . Garlic is one of the most commonly used herbal remedies and is considered to have hypocholesterolemic as well as other cardioprotective properties . Its effect on psychopathologic parameters has never been reported . OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of garlic on lipid parameters and depression , impulsivity , hostility and temperament in patients with primary type 2 hyperlipidemia . METHODS In a 16 week prospect i ve double-blind placebo-controlled study , 33 patients with primary hypercholesterolemia and no evidence of cardiovascular disease were r and omly assigned to receive either garlic or placebo . Garlic in the form of alliin 22.4 mg/day was given to 13 patients , and placebo to 20 . Both groups received individual dietary counseling . The changes in lipid profile and the various psychopathologic parameters were determined at the beginning and end of the trial . The differences in lipid parameters were evaluated by Student 's t-test . The psychological data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance ( ANOVA ) with repeated measures and Neuman-Keuls test . RESULTS No significant changes were observed in levels of total cholesterol , low density lipoprotein-cholesterol , high density lipoprotein-cholesterol and triglycerides , or in the psychopathologic parameters evaluated . CONCLUSION Short-term garlic therapy in adults with mild to moderate hypercholesterolemia does not affect either lipid levels or various psychopathologic parameters The ingestion of garlic has been reported to have many cardiovascular effects , including a reduction in plasma cholesterol concentration and the susceptibility of LDL to oxidation . A double-blind , placebo-controlled , r and omised crossover study was conducted in subjects with mild to moderate hypercholesterolaemia who were subject to strict dietary supervision and assessment . After a baseline dietary period of 28 days , subjects took Kwai garlic powder tablets 300 mg three times daily or matching placebo for 12 weeks , followed by 28 days washout , followed by a 12 weeks crossover on the alternative preparation . In the analysis hypercholesterolaemia was defined as those subjects in the range 5.5 - 8.05 mmol/l . Three subjects were withdrawn , one allocated to garlic and complaining of garlic body odour , one using placebo having intercurrent health problems , and one with a baseline cholesterol below 5.5 mmol/l , yielding analysable results in 28 subjects . Comparing the period on garlic with that on placebo , there were no significant differences in plasma cholesterol , LDL cholesterol , HDL cholesterol , plasma triglycerides , lipoprotein(a ) concentrations , or blood pressure . Mean LDL cholesterol concentration was 4.64 + /- 0.52 mmol/l on garlic and 4.60 + /- 0.59 mmol/l on placebo . There was no demonstrable effect of garlic on oxidisability of LDL , on the ratio of plasma lathosterol/cholesterol ( a measure of cholesterol synthesis ) , nor on LDL receptor expression in lymphocytes . This study found no demonstrable effect of garlic ingestion on lipids and lipoproteins OBJECTIVES To test the hypothesis that a garlic supplement alters plasma lipoproteins , postpr and ial lipemia , low-density lipoprotein ( LDL ) size and high-density lipoprotein ( HDL ) subclass distribution differently in 50 moderately hypercholesterolemic subjects classified as LDL subclass pattern A or B. BACKGROUND Garlic has been variably reported to reduce or not affect plasma cholesterol values . Low-density lipoprotein pattern B is a common inherited disorder of lipoprotein metabolism that has been shown to have a significantly greater response to several lipid lowering treatments including low fat diet when compared with LDL pattern A individuals . METHODS A double blind , r and omized , placebo controlled trial in an outpatient lipid research clinic was performed and included fifty moderately hypercholesterolemic subjects ( mean LDL cholesterol = 166 + /- 22 mg/dl ) classified as LDL subclass pattern A ( predominantly large LDL , n = 22 ) or B ( predominantly small LDL , n = 28 ) . Following a two-month stabilization period , subjects were r and omly assigned to a placebo or 300 mg three times a day of a st and ardized garlic tablet for three months . RESULTS For all subjects , LDL pattern A and B subjects combined , garlic treatment for three months result ed in no significant change in total cholesterol , LDL cholesterol , HDL cholesterol , HDL subclass distribution , postpr and ial triglycerides , apolipoprotein B , lipoprotein ( a ) ( Lp[a ] ) , LDL peak particle diameter or LDL subclass distribution . There was no significant difference in response for the same parameters among subjects classified as LDL pattern A or B with the exception of significantly greater ( p = 0.01 ) reduction in mean peak particle diameter in pattern A subjects treated with either garlic or placebo . There was no significant change in LDL subclass distribution . CONCLUSIONS This investigation confirms that garlic therapy has no effect on major plasma lipoproteins and further , that it has no impact on HDL subclasses , Lp(a ) , apolipoprotein B , postpr and ial triglycerides or LDL subclass distribution .  Garlic may have a greater effect on LDL particle diameter in LDL pattern A compared with pattern B subjects . This difference was not reflected in other plasma lipid measurements Early trials of garlic preparations on blood lipids mainly supported a lipid-lowering effect , whereas later well- design ed garlic tablet trials were mainly entirely null . However , enteric simulation tests suggest that this discordance may result from ineffective delivery of bioactive agents from the br and s of garlic powder ( GP ) and cyclodextrin-bound garlic oil ( GO ) tablets tested in some recent negative trials . In contrast , enteric simulation tests show that the preformed bioactive agents present in " traditional " gelatin capsules of GO are efficiently released , although such capsules have rarely been investigated in lipid-lowering trials . It was hypothesized that gelatin capsules of GO given to normal subjects would improve specified coronary heart disease risk factors . Effects of a GP preparation were also investigated . Subjects ( n = 51 ; men and women , mean age 27 y ) were r and omly assigned to receive either 8.2 mg/d of GO ( allyl sulfides ) or placebo for 11 wk . Another 27 subjects received garlic powder ( GP ) of similar biopotential ( 7.8 mg allicin/d ) . Outcome measures were 95 % confidence intervals ( CI ) between GO and placebo groups for differences between baseline and subsequent sample times . Men and women combined showed no significant differences save for an improved total antioxidant capacity at 6 wk ( P = 0.01 ) . Hence , no benefit from GO after 11 wk is one plausible conclusion . However , there were significant differences in effect of GO between men and women for HDL cholesterol ( HDL-C ) ( P = 0.004 ) and total cholesterol (TC)/HDL-C ( P = 0.003 ) . Women showed favorable effects in terms of CHD risk factors ( i.e. , increases in HDL-C and reductions in TC/HDL-C ) , whereas men had small adverse effects . There was a significant difference in the GO effect for glucose ( P = 0.006 ) , with a reduction seen for men and an increase for women . The gender effects were unexpected and such analyses were not planned in advance . Confirmation of these findings with larger numbers of subjects would have importance for the use of garlic against CHD and for the design of future garlic studies The study was conducted on two groups of individuals . Group A consisted of 20 healthy volunteers who were fed garlic for 6 months and then followed for another 2 months without garlic . Garlic administration significantly lowered the serum cholesterol and triglycerides while raising the high-density lipoproteins .  Group B consisted of 62 patients with coronary heart disease with elevated serum cholesterol . They were r and omly divided into two subgroups : B1 was fed garlic for 10 months while B2 served as a control . Garlic decreased the serum cholesterol ( p less than 0.05 ) , triglycerides ( p less than 0.05 ) and low density lipoprotein ( p less than 0.05 ) while increasing the high-density fraction ( p less than 0.001 ) . The change reached statistically significant levels at the end of 8 months and persisted for the next 2 months of follow-up . Thus , the essential oil of garlic has shown a distinct hypolipidemic action in both healthy individuals and patients of coronary heart disease Lipid management is well established as an effective preventive and management tool for cardiovascular disease ( CVD ) . Health cl aims regarding the cholesterol lowering benefits of garlic are widespread . However , the clinical trial data are inconsistent . The effect of two doses of a commercial garlic preparation on plasma lipids were evaluated , compared to a placebo , in moderately hypercholesterolemic adults ( baseline low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)=157 . 4+/-18.7 , mean+/-S.D. ) . Fifty-one adults , aged 51.8+/-8.3 years participated in a double-blind , placebo-controlled , parallel treatment trial conducted in an outpatient research clinic . They were r and omized to a placebo or a garlic botanical blend providing 500 or 1000 mg dehydrated garlic powder/day ( three groups , 16 - 18 subjects per group ) . Plasma lipids were assessed every 2 weeks for 12 weeks . The study was design ed with sufficient power to detect a 10 % relative decline in LDL-C. The absolute mean changes in LDL-C over 12 weeks were 0.0+/-4.3 , + 1.4+/-4.8 , and -10.1+/-6.8 mg/dl for the placebo , half-dose and full-dose , respectively . In the full-dose group , the LDL-C decrease of 6.1 % was not significantly different from the other groups ( P=0.5 ) . No significant differences were observed for total- or high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( HDL-C ) , or triacylglycerol levels . In conclusion , the garlic powder preparation used in this study among moderately hypercholesterolemic adults did not significantly effect plasma lipids levels . There was no indication of a grade d affect by garlic dose over the range of 0 , 500 and 1000 mg/day . A small ( < 10 % ) effect on LDL-C levels or a threshold effect requiring larger doses are not eliminated by this study BACKGROUND Epidemiologic studies suggest that garlic may have beneficial effects on risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease ( CVD ) . However , these findings are not unambiguously supported by r and omized placebo-controlled clinical trials . OBJECTIVE We sought to investigate the effects of a chemically well-characterized garlic preparation on biomarkers for inflammation , endothelial function , and lipid metabolism in subjects with risk factors for CVD . DESIGN This was a double-blind , r and omized , placebo-controlled trial in 90 overweight [ body mass index ( in kg/m2 ) > 24.5 ] subjects aged 40 - 75 y who smoked > 10 cigarettes/d . The subjects were r and omly assigned to 3 parallel treatment groups : garlic powder ( 2.1 g/d ) , atorvastatin ( 40 mg/d ) , or placebo . Duplicate measurements were performed at baseline and after 1 and 3 mo of treatment . Treatments were compared with analysis of covariance with baseline as the covariate , and differences between the treatments were reported as mean percentage difference and corresponding 97.5 % CI . RESULTS None of the variables showed significant differences between the garlic-treated and the placebo groups . In contrast , compared with the placebo group , atorvastatin treatment result ed in significantly lower plasma concentrations of C-reactive protein ( 20.2 % ; 1.7 % , 35.3 % ) , total cholesterol ( 37.2 % ; 33.1 % , 41.1 % ) , LDL cholesterol ( 52.7 % ; 47.9 % , 57.1 % ) , triacylglycerols ( 31.9 % ; 20.8 % , 41.5 % ) , and tumor necrosis factor alpha ( TNF-alpha ; 41.9 % ; 19.0 % , 58.3 % ) and increased the ratio of ex vivo whole blood lipopolysaccharide-stimulated to nonstimulated TNF-alpha concentrations ( 109.7 % ; 37.9 % , 218.9 % ) . CONCLUSION We conclude that a chemically well-characterized garlic preparation has no significant effect on inflammatory biomarkers , endothelial function , or lipid profile in normolipidemic subjects with risk factors for CVD This study evaluated the effect of a dried garlic powder preparation , st and ardised to 1.3 % alliin , on the composition of plasma lipoproteins and erythrocyte membranes . Forty volunteers , aged 70 years and over , took 600 mg of garlic powder per day for three months . In participants with initially normal plasma cholesterol levels ( CH less than 200 mg/dl ; n = 11 ) after three months of garlic tablet administration , little or no change in CH values was registered , as for most of the other parameters . In contrast , in volunteers with initially elevated CH levels ( CH greater than 200 mg/dl , n = 29 ) , the CH levels were reduced by -7.7 % ( p less than 0.001 ) . This reduction took place primarily in the esterified cholesterol fraction ( -12 % , p less than 0.001 ) , whereas free cholesterol concentrations were not altered significantly . Triglycerides ( -15.9 % , p less than 0.05 ) and plasma choline phospholipids ( -4.6 % , p less than 0.01 ) were also reduced . No change of the plasma LDL-CH to HDL-CH ratio was observed in this group . Based on the weight of lyophilised , haemoglobin-free erythrocytes , the mean membrane concentration of phospholipids and cholesterol in the total cohort ( n = 40 ) increased by 5.7 % ( p less than 0.001 ) and 6.1 % ( p less than 0.01 ) , respectively . These increases were more pronounced the lower the body mass indices ( kg/m2 ) were , and the longer the duration of garlic administration was . The molar ratio of membrane phospholipids to cholesterol remained unchanged . The results are discussed with regard to a possible role of the garlic-induced membrane effects in the plasma lipid-lowering potency of garlic and preparations made from it This study examined the effects of garlic and fish-oil supplementation ( alone and in combination ) on fasting serum lipids and lipoproteins in hypercholesterolemic subjects . After an initial run-in phase , 50 male subjects with moderate hypercholesterolemia were r and omly assigned for 12 wk to one of four groups : 1 ) 900 mg garlic placebo/d + 12 g oil placebo/d ; 2 ) 900 mg garlic/d + 12 g oil placebo/d ; 3 ) 900 mg garlic placebo/d + 12 g fish oil/d , providing 3.6 g n-3 fatty acids/d ; and 4 ) 900 mg garlic/d + 12 g fish oil/d . In the placebo group , mean serum total cholesterol , low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol ( LDL-C ) , and triacylglycerols were not significantly changed in relation to baseline . Mean group total cholesterol concentrations were significantly lower with garlic+fish oil ( -12.2 % ) and with garlic ( -11.5 % ) after 12 wk but not with fish oil alone .  Mean LDL-C concentrations were reduced with garlic+fish oil ( -9.5 % ) and with garlic ( -14.2 % ) but were raised with fish oil ( + 8.5 % ) . Mean triacylglycerol concentrations were reduced with garlic+fish oil ( -34.3 % ) and fish oil alone ( -37.3 % ) . The garlic groups ( with and without fish oil ) had significantly lower ratios of total cholesterol to high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol ( HDL-C ) and LDL-C to HDL-C. In summary , garlic supplementation significantly decreased both total cholesterol and LDL-C whereas fish-oil supplementation significantly decreased triacylglycerol concentrations and increased LDL-C concentrations in hypercholesterolemic men . The combination of garlic and fish oil reversed the moderate fish-oil-induced rise in LDL-C. Coadministration of garlic with fish oil was well-tolerated and had a beneficial effect on serum lipid and lipoprotein concentrations by providing a combined lowering of total cholesterol , LDL-C , and triacylglycerol concentrations as well as the ratios of total cholesterol to HDL-C and LDL-C to The effects of dried garlic on blood lipids , apolipoproteins and blood coagulation parameters in hyperlipemic patients were studies in two controlled , r and omized , double-blind studies . Both studies comprised placebo and therapy periods of 6 weeks each . The doses administered were 3 X 198 mg in Study I ( 34 patients ) and 3 X 450 mg in Study II ( 51 patients ) . In both studies , the following serum parameters were measured every 3 weeks : total cholesterol , HDL ( high density lipoprotein)- and LDL ( low density lipoprotein)-cholesterol , triglycerides and several safety parameters . In addition , apolipoproteins A and B , euglobulin lysis time , fibrin split products , prothrombin time , whole blood coagulation time and fibrinogen levels were determined in the second study only . The results indicated that neither dosage of dried garlic showed any significant effect on any of the parameters measured . It is therefore concluded that , if there is any effect of garlic on the parameters measured , it is not apparent when using a dried preparation in the dosage studied BACKGROUND Garlic is widely promoted as a cholesterol-lowering agent , but efficacy studies have produced conflicting results . Garlic supplements differ in bioavailability of key phytochemicals . We evaluated the effect of raw garlic and 2 commonly used garlic supplements on cholesterol concentrations in adults with moderate hypercholesterolemia . METHODS In this parallel- design trial , 192 adults with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( LDL-C ) concentrations of 130 to 190 mg/dL ( 3.36 - 4.91 mmol/L ) were r and omly assigned to 1 of the following 4 treatment arms : raw garlic , powdered garlic supplement , aged garlic extract supplement , or placebo . Garlic product doses equivalent to an average-sized garlic clove were consumed 6 d/wk for 6 months . The primary study outcome was LDL-C concentration . Fasting plasma lipid concentrations were assessed monthly . Extensive chemical characterization of study material s was conducted throughout the trial . RESULTS Retention was 87 % to 90 % in all 4 treatment arms , and chemical stability of study material s was high throughout the trial . There were no statistically significant effects of the 3 forms of garlic on LDL-C concentrations . The 6-month mean ( SD ) changes in LDL-C concentrations were + 0.4 ( 19.3 ) mg/dL ( + 0.01 [ 0.50 ] mmol/L ) , + 3.2 ( 17.2 ) mg/dL ( + 0.08 [ 0.44 ] mmol/L ) , + 0.2 ( 17.8 ) mg/dL ( + 0.005 [ 0.46 ] mmol/L ) , and -3.9 ( 16.5 ) mg/dL ( -0.10 [ 0.43 ] mmol/L ) for raw garlic , powdered supplement , aged extract supplement , and placebo , respectively . There were no statistically significant effects on high-density lipoprotein cholesterol , triglyceride levels , or total cholesterol-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio . CONCLUSIONS None of the forms of garlic used in this study , including raw garlic , when given at an approximate dose of a 4-g clove per day , 6 d/wk for 6 months , had statistically or clinical ly significant effects on LDL-C or other plasma lipid concentrations in adults with moderate hypercholesterolemia Our aim was to define any effects of confirmed garlic supplementation on the resistance of low density lipoprotein ( LDL ) to oxidation , on LDL sub-fraction composition including levels of lipoprotein(a ) , and on levels of circulating antibody to oxidised LDL , variables of interest in relation to cardiovascular risk . Additional tests were performed on sample s collected from a double blind , r and omised 6-month parallel trial in which 900 mg Kwai garlic or placebo was taken by moderately hypercholesterolaemic volunteers . Final data was analysed for 20 garlic and 11 placebo subjects with compliance of at least 75 % as determined by repeat tablet counting . EDTA plasma stabilised by sucrose was stored at -70 degrees C for up to 12 months . Lipids and apolipoproteins were determined by st and ard methods , lipoprotein(a ) by an ELISA method and LDL fraction composition by non-gradient gel electrophoresis . Oxidative resistance of LDL purified after isolation by density gradient centrifugation was assessed from oxidative resistance to copper ions determined spectrophotometrically , antibodies to oxidised LDL were determined by a microtitre plate assay and vitamin E content of plasma by HPLC . Overall lipid/lipoprotein profiles including lipoprotein(a ) were unchanged as with the parent group . LDL composition showed a trend to less dense material in both placebo and garlic groups , all differences not significant . Lag time as a marker of oxidative resistance also increased in both groups , without change in vitamin E content , all differences not significant and consistent with a placebo effect . Levels of antibodies to oxidised LDL were unchanged . The results of this study do not support the hypothesis that dietary garlic supplementation decreases the susceptibility of isolated LDL to oxidation and that patterns of LDL tractions in plasma might be involved . Levels of lipoprotein(a ) in plasma were also not changed . Other mechanisms of cardiovascular benefit are however not excluded Objective : To evaluate the hypocholesterolemic effect of an enteric-coated garlic supplement st and ardized for allicin-releasing potential in mild to moderate hypercholesterolemic patients . Methods : A double-blind r and omized , placebo-controlled intervention study was conducted in 46 hypercholesterolemic subjects who had failed or were not compliant with drug therapy . Each subject was given dietary counseling to lower fat intake and enteric-coated Australian garlic powder tablets with 9.6 mg allicin-releasing potential or matching placebo tablets . Results : After 12 weeks , the garlic supplement group ( n=22 ) had a significant reduction in total cholesterol ( TC , −0.36 mmol/L , −4.2 % ) and LDL-cholesterol ( LDL-C , −0.44 mmol/L , −6.6 % ) while the placebo group ( n=24 ) had a non-significant increase in TC ( 0.13 mmol/L , 2.0 % ) and LDL-C ( 0.18 mmol/L , 3.7 % ) . HDL-cholesterol was significantly increased in the placebo group ( 0.09 mmol/L , 9.1 % ) , compared to the garlic group ( −0.02 mmol/L , −0.9 % ) , and no significant difference in triglycerides or in LDL/HDL ratio was observed between groups . Conclusions : The study demonstrates that enteric-coated garlic powder supplements with 9.6 mg allicin-releasing potential may have value in mild to moderate hypercholesterolemic patients when combined with a low fat diet . Taken with other evidence , the efficacy of garlic for lipoprotein metabolism might require allicin bioavailability to be enhanced through the use of , for example , an enteric-coated dose form . If this is the case , the possibility remains that greater hypocholesterolemic efficacy may be evident at a higher allicin dose . Also noteworthy in this study was a small reduction in energy intake with garlic compared with placebo , attributable to reduction in fat , carbohydrate and alcohol intakes . This may also have contributed to the effects on blood lipids . This study suggests that garlic supplementation has a cholesterol-lowering effect , which may be mediated by direct action of a biologically active compound or compounds and in part through the effect on food and nutrient intake Most trials of bulb garlic and garlic powder tablets indicate reduced  coronary heart disease ( CHD ) risk in elevated-risk subjects . Most persons taking garlic supplements lack overt risk of CHD . However , no trials have tested steam-distilled garlic oil ( GO ) capsules with healthy subjects . The objectives of the present r and omized , double-blind , placebo-controlled study were to determine whether GO capsules reduce CHD risk in trained male runners . Twenty-seven volunteers ( mean age , 28.8 years ) completed the study . Each took 12.3 mg/day GO ( or placebo ) capsules for 16 weeks . Main outcome measures were 95 % confidence intervals ( CIs ) between GO and placebo groups for differences in changes of blood pressure ( BP ) , plasma lipids , total antioxidant status ( TAS ) , low-density lipoprotein ( LDL ) composition and blood clotting factors . Principal results as mean differences ( 95 % CI ) between GO and placebo are : pulse , 2.9 beats/min ( −0.8 to 6.7 ) , P= 0.12 ; systolic BP , −4.5 mmHg ( −10.8 to 1.9 ) , P= 0.16 ; plasma total cholesterol , 0.01 mmol/l ( −0.34 to 0.37 ) , P= 0.95 ; plasma triglycerides , −0.20 mmol/l ( −0.43 to 0.03 ) , P= 0.09 ; plasma TAS , 45 μmol Trolox equivalent/l ( −35 to 124 ) , P= 0.26 ; LDL density , 0.0019 g/ml ( −0.0005 to 0.0043 ) , P= 0.12 ; LDL triglycerides/protein , −0.078 mg/mg ( −0.149 to −0.007 ) , P= 0.03 ; LDL cholesterol/protein , −0.24 mg/mg ( −0.69 to 0.22 ) , P= 0.3 ; LDL TAS/triglycerides , 29 nmol/mg ( 11 , 68 ) , P= 0.15 ; prothrombin time , 0.99 s ( −0.36 to 2.35 ) , P= 0.14 ; partial thromboplastin time , 3.0 s ( −1.0 to 7.1 ) , P= 0.13 . Results were null statistically . Trends with GO were mostly towards lower CHD risk , and a larger study ( ~150 subjects ) is required to test their validity BACKGROUND Garlic ( Allium Sativum ) has been used in herbal medicine for centuries for various ailments . In recent years garlic has been the focus of serious medical and clinical attention because of beneficial effects on several cardiovascular risk factors like reduction of serum lipids , blood pressure and plasma viscosity . There is also wide spread belief among general public that garlic has beneficial effects on cardiovascular system . The purpose of present study was to evaluate the effects of garlic on one of the major cardiovascular risk factors i.e. dyslipidemia in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus . METHOD This 12 week r and omized , single-blind , placebo controlled study was conducted on Type 2 diabetic patients with newly diagnosed dyslipidemia ( n=70 ) . Patients were selected from Diabetic OPD of Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre , Karachi and were divided into two groups each comprising of 35 patients , they were given tablet garlic ( Garlex-Bosch Pharmaceuticals ) 300 mg ( containing 1.3 % allicin ) twice daily and identical placebo tablets respectively . Both groups were given diet and exercise plan . RESULTS After 12 weeks the garlic treated group ( n = 33 ) had a significant reduction in total cholesterol ( -28 mg/dl , - 12.03 % P= < 0.001 ) , LDL - C ( -30 mg/dl , - 17.99 % P=<0.001 ) while the placebo treated group ( n=32 ) had a non significant decrease in total cholesterol ( - 2 mg/dl , - 0.9 % p= ns ) and LDL-C ( -3 mg/dl , -1.6 % p = ns ) . HDL cholesterol was significantly increased in patients treated with garlic ( 3.35 mg/dl , 8.81 % P= < 0.05 ) compared with placebo group ( 0.62 , 1.6 % P= n.s ) but there was no significant difference in triglyceride was observed between two groups . CONCLUSION This study suggests possible small short term benefits of garlic on dyslipidemia in type 2 diabetic patients .  Garlic significantly reduced serum total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol and moderately raised HDL cholesterol as compared to placebo . Controlled Clinical Trials of longer duration are needed to assess the long term benefit of garlic on vascular and circulatory disease processes Recent studies have cast doubt on the proposed lipid-lowering and blood pressure-lowering effects of garlic . We tested the effect of dried garlic ( Allium sativum ) powder on blood lipids , blood pressure and arterial stiffness in a 12-week r and omised , double-blind , placebo-controlled trial . Seventy-five healthy , normo-lipidaemic volunteers ( men and women aged 40 - 60 years ) were assigned to dried garlic powder tablets ( 10.8 mg alliin ( 3-(2-propenylsulfinyl)-L-alanine)/d , corresponding to about three garlic cloves ) or placebo .  Sixty-two subjects were eligible for the per- protocol analysis . The primary outcome measure was serum total cholesterol concentration . Secondary outcome measures were LDL-cholesterol , HDL-cholesterol and triacylglycerol concentrations , blood pressure and arterial stiffness ( assessed by pulse wave velocity ) . No significant differences between the garlic and placebo groups were detected for any of the outcome measures . However , garlic powder was associated with a near-significant decrease ( 12 % ) in triacylglycerol concentration ( P=0.07 ) . In conclusion , garlic powder tablets have no clinical ly relevant lipid-lowering and blood pressure-lowering effects in middle-aged , normo-lipidaemic individuals . The putative anti-atherosclerotic effect of garlic may be linked to risk markers other than blood lipids
Garlic reduces TC to a modest extent , an effect driven mostly by the modest reductions in TAG , without appreciable LDL lowering or HDL elevation .
Higher baseline line TC levels and the use of dietary modification may alter the effect of garlic on these parameters .
In order to determine the impact of  garlic on total cholesterol ( TC ) , TAG levels , as well as LDL and HDL  , and establish if any variables have an impact on the magnitude of this effect , a meta- analysis was conducted .