Garlic extract for cardiovascular disease markers in people with heart disease Original paper

In this meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials, supplementation with garlic extract improved a number of cardiovascular disease markers in adults with coronary artery disease.

The effect of supplementation with garlic extract on the levels of blood lipids (total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and apolipoprotein A), levels of inflammatory biomarkers (C-reactive protein, interleukin 6, and homocysteine), blood pressure (systolic and diastolic), and coronary artery calcification (CAC) scores.

866 men and women (average ages of 55–64) with coronary artery disease (CAD).

A meta-analysis of 12 randomized controlled trials was conducted. Most trials used aged garlic extract. The daily dose of garlic extract ranged from 250 to 2,400 milligrams, and the intervention duration ranged from 2 weeks to 2 years (with most trials lasting 3 or 12 months).

Supplementation with garlic extract reduced (improved) the concentrations of LDL cholesterol (small effect size), C-reactive protein (medium effect size), interleukin 6 (large effect size), homocysteine (medium effect size), and CAC score (large effect size) and increased the concentrations of HDL cholesterol (very small effect size) and apolipoprotein A (medium effect size).