CAN GARLIC REDUCE LEVELS OF SERUM-LIPIDS - A CONTROLLED CLINICAL-STUDY

PURPOSE: To assess the effects of standardized garlic powder tablets o n serum lipids and lipoproteins, glucose, and blood pressure. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Forty-two healthy adults (19 men, 23 women), mean age of 52 +/- 12 years, with a serum total cholesterol (TC) level of greater than or equal to 220 mg/dL received, in a randomized, double-blind fa shion, either:300 mg three times a day of standardized garlic pow der in tablet form or placebo. Diets and physical activity were unchanged This study was conducted in an outpatient, clinical research unit. RES ULTS: The baseline serum TC level of 262 +/- 34 mg/dL was reduced to 2 47 +/- 40 mg/dL (p <0.01) after 12 weeks of standard garlic treatment. Corresponding values for placebo were 276 +/- 34 mg/dL before and 274 +/- 29 mg/dL, after placebo treatment. Low-density lipoprotein choles terol (LDL-C) was reduced by 11% by garlic treatment and 3% by placebo (p <0.05). There were no significant changes in high-density lipoprot ein cholesterol, triglycerides, serum glucose, blood pressure, and oth er monitored parameters CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with standardized garli c 900 mg/d produced a significantly greater reduction in serum TC and LDL-C than placebo. The garlic formulation was well tolerated without any odor problems.