Garlic Oil for Cholesterol
Source: Berthold HK, et al. JAMA 1998;279:1900-1902.
Though garlic has been promoted for a variety of medical maladies, and meta-analyses would have us believe that perhaps as much as 12% reduction of total cholesterol could be achieved by garlic supplementation, much of the methodology of prior studies is sufficiently flawed that firm conclusions cannot be drawn. This study investigated 25 patients, in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial, who were given either 5 mg twice daily garlic oil or placebo for 12 weeks.
The drug was well tolerated. Save the experience of garlic odor, and modest abdominal discomfort (seen in placebo as well), no serious adverse events were reported. Lipoprotein concentrations were essentially unchanged by drug therapy. There was no measurable effect on cholesterol absorption or synthesis. The authors exercised particular care to exclude changes in body weight or dietary habits that could have biased the results of prior trials in favor of garlic therapy. The authors comment that, based on the results of their study, there is no evidence to recommend garlic therapy for lowering lipids. -lk
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