GARLIC BETTER THAN STATIN DRUGS FOR PREVENTING HEART ATTACKS

[Guest guest]

GARLIC BETTER THAN STATIN DRUGS FOR PREVENTING HEART ATTACKS

by Alan Tillotson, Ph.D., AHG

http://www.planetherbs.com/

 

Recent TV ads from major cholesterol-lowering drugs like Lipitor

flash language stating that the medicines do not prevent heart

attacks or heart disease.

 

In comparison, the below scientific reports deal with the much more

important purpose of lowering cholesterol - to prevent vessel

clogging, how garlic effects can be made stronger with fish oils,

and finally estimates on the core issue of garlic's effectiveness in

preventing real heart attacks.

 

The antiatherosclerotic effect of Allium sativum.Koscielny J,

Klussendorf D, Latza R, Schmitt R, Radtke H, Siegel G,

Kiesewetter H. Atherosclerosis 1999 May;144(1):237-49

 

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial,

the plaque volumes in both carotid and femoral arteries of 152

probationers were determined by B-mode ultrasound.

 

Continuous intake of high-dose garlic powder dragees reduced

significantly the increase in arteriosclerotic plaque volume by 5-

18% or even effected a slight regression within the observational

period of 48 months.

 

Also the age-dependent representation of the plaque volume shows an

increase between 50 and 80 years that is diminished under garlic

treatment by 6-13% related to 4 years.

 

It seems even more important that with garlic application the plaque

volume in the whole collective remained practically constant within

the age-span of 50-80 years. These results substantiated that not

only a preventive but possibly also a curative role in

arteriosclerosis therapy (plaque regression) may be ascribed to

garlic remedies.

 

Publication Types:

* Clinical Trial

* Randomized Controlled Trial

 

J Natl Med Assoc 1997 Oct;89(10):673-8

Modulation of lipid profile by fish oil and garlic combination.

Morcos NC. Division of Cardiology, University of California, Irvine

92717, USA. Fish consumption has been shown to influence

epidemiology of heart disease, and garlic has been shown to

influence triglyceride levels. This study was undertaken to evaluate

the effect of fish oil and garlic combinations as a dietary

supplement on the lipid subfractions. Forty consecutive subjects

with lipid profile abnormalities were enrolled in a single-blind,

placebo-controlled crossover study. Each subject received placebo

for 1 month and fish oil (1800 mg of eicosapentanoic acid [EPA] +

1200 mg of docosahexanoic acid) with garlic powder (1200 mg)

capsules daily for 1 month.

 

Lipid fractionation was performed prior to study initiation, after

the placebo period, and after the intervention period. Subjects all

had cholesterol levels > 200. Subjects were instructed to maintain

their usual diets. Supplementation for 1 month resulted in an 11%

decrease in cholesterol, a 34% decrease in triglyceride, and a 10%

decrease in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels, as well as a 19%

decrease in cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein (HDL) risk.

Although not significant, there was a trend toward increase in HDL.

There was no significant placebo effect. These results suggest that

in addition to the known anticoagulant and antioxidant properties of

both fish oil and garlic, the combination causes favorable shifts in

the lipid subfractions within 1 month. Triglycerides are affected to

the largest extent. The cholesterol lowering and improvement in

lipid/HDL risk ratios suggests that these combinations may have

antiatherosclerotic properties and may protect against the

development of coronary artery disease.

 

Publication Types:

* Clinical Trial

* Randomized Controlled Trial

Wien Med Wochenschr 1999;149(8-10):217-24 [Pleiotropic effects of

garlic] [Article in German] Siegel G, Walter A, Engel S, Walper A,

Michel F. Institut fur Physiologie, Universitatsklinikums Benjamin

Franklin, Freien Universitat Berlin, Deutschland.

siegel Garlic as a herbal remedy reduces a

multitude of risk factors which play a decisive role in the genesis

and progression of arteriosclerosis: decrease in total and LDL-

cholesterol, increase in HDL-cholesterol, reduction of serum

triglyceride and fibrinogen concentration, lowering of arterial

blood pressure and promotion of organ perfusion, and, finally,

enhancement in fibrinolysis, inhibition of platelet aggregation, and

diminution of plasma viscosity. In a prospective, 4-year clinical

trial with primary endpoint 'arteriosclerotic plaque volume' it was

proven not only a 9 to 18% reduction and 3% regression in plaque

volume of the total collective under the influence of standardized

garlic powder dragees (900 mg/die LI 111), but also of some facets

of the phytopharmacologic pleiotropy of this herb: decrease in LDL

level by 4%, increase in HDL concentration by 8%, and lowering in

blood pressure by 7%. The reduction of arterial blood pressure is

due to an additional opening of K(Ca) ion channels in the membrane

of vascular smooth muscle cells that effects its hyperpolarization.

This membrane hyperpolarization closes about 20% of the L-type Ca2+

channels, consequence of which is vasodilatation. In human coronary

arteries, the increase in vascular diameter by 4% is closely

associated with an improvement of coronary perfusion by 18%. These

pleiotropic effects of garlic result in a reduction of relative

cardiovascular risk for infarction and stroke by more than 50%.

Publication Types:

* Review

* Review, Tutorial

Comments:

 

Alan Keith Tillotson, PhD, AHG

1008 Milltown Rd., Wilm., DE 19808 USA

(302) 994-0565 (302) 995-0653 fax

Email: AlanT3

_________________

JoAnn Guest

mrsjoguest

DietaryTipsForHBP

http://www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/AIM.html