Daily supplementation with aged garlic extract, but not raw garlic, protects low density lipoprotein against in vitro oxidation

The oxidation of low density lipoprotein (LDL) is believed to be an importa nt process in the development and progression of atherosclerosis. In this s tudy, human subjects were supplemented daily with one of: 6 g raw garlic; 2 .4 g aged garlic extract (AGE); or 0.8 g DL-alpha-tocopherol acetate for 7 days to determine the effect on the susceptibility of LDL particles to Cu2-mediated oxidation. LDL isolated from subjects given either alpha-tocopher ol or AGE, but not raw garlic, was significantly more resistant to oxidatio n than LDL isolated from subjects receiving no supplements. These results s uggest that if antioxidants are proven to be antiatherogenic, AGE may be us eful in preventing atherosclerotic disease. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Irela nd Ltd. All rights reserved.