What do garlic pills do

Cardiomyopathy is the leading cause of death among diabetes patients. The team fed diabetic laboratory rats either garlic oil or corn oil. Those fed garlic oil experienced significantly more changes associated with protection against heart damage, compared with the animals that were fed corn oil. Researchers at Ankara University investigated the effects of garlic extract supplementation on the blood lipid fat profile of patients with high blood cholesterol.

Their study was published in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry. The study involved 23 volunteers, all with high cholesterol; 13 of them also had high blood pressure. They were divided into two groups:. They took garlic extract supplements for 4 months and were regularly checked for blood lipid parameters, as well as kidney and liver function. It also leads to a decrease in the level of oxidation product MDA in the blood samples, which demonstrates reduced oxidation reactions in the body.

In other words, the garlic extract supplements reduced high cholesterol levels, and also blood pressure in the patients with hypertension. The scientists added that theirs was a small study — more work needs to be carried out. Doctors at the Department of Urology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China, carried out a study evaluating the relationship between Allium vegetable consumption and prostate cancer risk.

They gathered and analyzed published studies up to May and reported their findings in the Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention. The team also commented that because there are not many relevant studies, further well-designed prospective studies should be carried out to confirm their findings. Scientists at the Institute of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Shandong University, China, wanted to determine whether diallyl disulfide DADS , a garlic-derived organosulfur compound, might have protective effects against ethanol-induced oxidative stress.

Their study was published in Biochimica et Biophysica Acta. Scientists at the Division of Epidemiology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, studied what impact foods might have on antimicrobial infections and preterm delivery risk.

The study and its findings were published in the Journal of Nutrition. Ronny Myhre and colleagues concentrated on the effects of Alliums and dried fruits, because a literature search had identified these two foods as showing the greatest promise for reducing preterm delivery risk. The team investigated the intake of dried fruit and Alliums among 18, women in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort, of whom 5 percent underwent spontaneous PTD preterm delivery.

In particular, garlic was associated with overall lower risk of spontaneous PTD. A team of researchers from St. Though there is some research to suggest that raw garlic has the most benefits, other studies have looked at overall allium intake, both raw and cooked, and have found benefits. Therefore, you can enjoy garlic in a variety of ways to reap its advantages. Vanilla extract adds depth of flavor to recipes and baked goods, and substitutes can replace it in a pinch.

Comparison of the efficacy and tolerance of a garlic preparation vs. Garlic extract therapy in children with hypercholesterolemia. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. Comparing effects of 3 sources of garlic on cholesterol levels. A meta-analysis of the effect of garlic on blood pressure.

J Hypertens. Wien Med Wochenschr. The antiatherosclerotic effect of Allium sativum. Siegel G, Klussendorf D. The anti-atherosclerotic effect of Allium sativuum : statistics re-evaluation. Protective effect of chronic garlic intake on elastic properties of aorta in the elderly. Allium vegetables: their role in the prevention of cancer. Biochem Soc Trans. Fleischauer AT, Arab L. Garlic and cancer: a critical review of the epidemiologic literature. J Nutr. Herbal medicine: expanded Commission E monographs.

Newton, Mass. The effect of garlic supplements on the pharmacokinetics of saquinavir. Clin Infect Dis. Effect of short-term administration of garlic supplements on single-dose ritonavir pharmacokinetics in healthy volunteers. Br J Clin Pharmacol. Burnham BE. Garlic as a possible risk for postoperative bleeding. Plast Reconstr Surg.

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Contact afpserv aafp. Want to use this article elsewhere? Get Permissions. Read the Issue. Sign Up Now. Previous: Diabetic Nephropathy: Common Questions. Jul 1, Issue. Health Effects of Garlic. C 5 to 13 Patients at risk of thrombosis should be advised that garlic may have a modest but significant effect on platelet aggregation compared with placebo. C 10 Patients should be advised that there may be a reduction in the risk of cancer, particularly stomach and colon cancer, with high consumption of garlic and other allium vegetables e.

Pharmacology The root bulb of the garlic plant is used medicinally. Uses and Efficacy Garlic has been studied extensively in vitro, in animal and human clinical trials, and in epidemiologic evaluations for its multiple medicinal properties.

Contraindications, Adverse Effects, Interactions The ingestion of one to two cloves of raw garlic per day is considered safe in adults. Dosage The effective dosage of garlic has not been determined. Final Comment Large, long-term, fully blinded, and well-controlled studies using a standardized preparation of garlic with known active components are necessary.

Adult dosage Raw garlic: 4 g per day 1 to 2 cloves Dried powder 1. TABLE 1 Key Points About Garlic Efficacy Antihypertensive activity: no consistent effect Antimicrobial activity: insufficient data Antineoplastic activity: epidemiologic suggestion of positive effect Antithrombotic activity: modest antiplatelet effect Hypoglycemic activity: no effect Lipid-lowering activity: modest, positive short-term effect Adverse effects Common: breath and body odor Less frequent: gastrointestinal upset, flatulence Rare: dermatitis, burns, blisters with topical use Interactions Effect on protease inhibitor pharmacokinetics is unclear; use caution when taken with anticoagulants; consider discontinuing high dosages 7 to 10 days before surgery.

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Purchase Access: See My Options close. A couple of cloves a day may help keep a visit to the cardiologist away. ACE inhibitors help relax blood vessels. This could potentially support healthy blood flow and pressure. Raj points to a recent review and meta-analysis published in February in Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine : In the 12 trials and more than individuals with hypertension that were studied, taking Kyolic aged garlic supplements for three months lowered systolic blood pressure top number by about 8 points and diastolic blood pressure bottom number by 5.

Scientists believe that chronic inflammation is a driver behind chronic diseases, including heart disease , diabetes , cancer , and arthritis , according to Harvard Health Publishing. Garlic, on the other hand, helps inhibit the activity of certain inflammatory proteins, says Raj. In a randomized, controlled, double-blind study of 70 women with the inflammatory autoimmune disease rheumatoid arthritis, the group who took 1, milligrams of garlic supplements per day for eight weeks had lower inflammatory markers, less pain and fatigue, and fewer tender joints compared with a placebo group.

Researchers published their findings in November in Phytotherapy Research. Another potential perk of garlic for the heart: improving cholesterol levels.