Garlic and cardiovascular disease: A critical review
Open accessAbstract
Epidemiologic studies show an inverse correlation between garlic consumption and progression of cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular disease is associated with multiple factors such as raised serum total cholesterol, raised LDL and an increase in LDL oxidation, increased platelet aggregation, hypertension, and smoking. Numerous in vitro studies have confirmed the ability of garlic to reduce these parameters. Thus, garlic has been shown to inhibit enzymes involved in lipid synthesis, decrease platelet aggregation, prevent lipid peroxidation of oxidized erythrocytes and LDL, increase antioxidant status, and inhibit angiotension-converting enzyme. These findings have also been addressed in clinical trials. The studies point to the fact that garlic reduces cholesterol, inhibits platelet aggregation, reduces blood pressure, and increases antioxidant status. Since 1993, 44% of clinical trials have indicated a reduction in total cholesterol, and the most profound effect has been observed in garlic's ability to reduce the ability of platelets to aggregate. Mixed results have been obtained in the area of blood pressure and oxidative-stress reduction. The findings are limited because very few trials have addressed these issues. The negative results obtained in some clinical trials may also have resulted from usage of different garlic preparations, unknown active constituents and their bioavalability, inadequate randomization, selection of inappropriate subjects, and short duration of trials. This review analyzes in vitro and in vivo studies published since 1993 and concludes that although garlic appears to hold promise in reducing parameters associated with cardiovascular disease, more in-depth and appropriate studies are required.
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Complications of atherosclerosis, such as heart attack or stroke, can be prevented by garlic consumption.
“Thus, the complications of atherosclerosis, such as heart attack or stroke, can be prevented by garlic consumption.”
From Mediterranean Diet as an Antioxidant: The Impact on Metabolic Health and Overall Wellbeing (2021) · cites this paper as [53]
Traditionally, garlic and its related compounds have been stated to have several biological activities including anticarcinogenic, antioxidant, antidiabetic, renoprotective, anti-atherosclerotic, antibacterial, antifungal, and antihypertensive activities.
“Traditionally, garlic and its related compounds have been stated to have several biological activities including anticarcinogenic, antioxidant [46], antidiabetic, renoprotective, anti-atherosclerotic, antibacterial, antifungal [47], and antihypertensive activities [17].”
From Chemical Constituents and Pharmacological Activities of Garlic (Allium sativum L.): A Review (2020) · cites this paper as [46]
Many surgeons recommended stopping garlic administration in high doses up to 7 to 10 days prior to operation due to its effect to prolong the bleeding time that was observed in one patient with epidural spontaneous hematoma.
“Many surgeons recommended stopping garlic administration in high doses up to 7 to 10 days prior to operation due to its effect to prolong the bleeding time that was observed in one patient with epidural spontaneous hematoma [46].”
From Chemical Constituents and Pharmacological Activities of Garlic (Allium sativum L.): A Review (2020) · cites this paper as [46]
Garlic does not seem to affect drug metabolism, although recent reports on healthy participants show inconsistent results regarding the garlic effect in the pharmacokinetics of protease inhibitors, as well as anticoagulants due to its antithrombotic properties.
“Garlic does not seem to affect the drug metabolism, although recent reports on healthy participants show inconsistent results regarding the garlic effect in the pharmacokinetics of protease inhibitors, as well as anticoagulants due to its antithrombotic properties [46].”
From Chemical Constituents and Pharmacological Activities of Garlic (Allium sativum L.): A Review (2020) · cites this paper as [46]
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Retracted
- Authors
- Rahman, K., & Lowe, G. M.
- Affiliations
- Liverpool John Moores University (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Rahman, Khalid
- ORCID
- Rahman, Khalid
- Venue
- The Journal of Nutrition
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2006-03
- Volume
- 136
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 736S-740S
- ISSN
- 0022-3166 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1904312815
- Cited by
- 447
- References
- 50
- Citations by year
- 2026: 12 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 20 · 2023: 36 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 28 · 2020: 30 · 2019: 17 · 2018: 20 · 2017: 23 · 2016: 24 · 2015: 32 · 2014: 21 · 2013: 31 · 2012: 22
- FWCI
- 29.56
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Journal of Nutrition (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- University of California, Irvine
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Garlic and Onion Studies
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Genomics, phytochemicals, and oxidative stress
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Ginseng Biological Effects and Applications
- Keywords
- garlic, cardiovascular disease, cholesterol, LDL oxidation, platelet aggregation, blood pressure, antioxidant status, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition, lipid peroxidation, hypertension, smoking, clinical trials
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Antioxidants, Blood Coagulation, Cardiovascular Diseases, Fibrinolysis, Garlic, Humans, Phytotherapy, Plant Extracts, Lipid Peroxidation, Models, Animal
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