Keep Arteries Healthy with Aged Garlic

March 20, 2005

Keep Arteries Healthy with Aged Garlic JoAnn Guest Mar 20, 2005 14:08 PST

By Darin Ingels, ND, MT (ASCP)

Healthnotes Newswire (December 2, 2004)—People with heart disease or who

are at risk of developing it may lower their risk of having a heart

attack or stroke by consuming an aged garlic extract, according to a

preliminary study in Preventive Medicine (2004;39:985–91). Aged garlic

slows the progression of hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis), a

known trigger for heart attacks.

Aged garlic extract is made by chopping up the cloves and placing them

in alcohol for up to two years. This long fermentation process allows

for many of the sulfur-containing substances (which give garlic its

characteristic odor) to break down into hundreds of other nonodorous

compounds. Several studies have shown that aged garlic extract is

effective at lowering cholesterol, but this is one of the first studies

to show it also helps slow atherosclerosis progression.

In the new study, 19 older adults with known heart disease or who were

at high risk of developing heart disease were randomly assigned to

consume 4 ml (four-fifths of a teaspoonful) per day of aged garlic

extract or a similar amount of a placebo for one year in addition to

cholesterol-lowering medications (known as “statins”) and aspirin

therapy. Electron beam tomography (EBT), a noninvasive method of

determining the amount of calcium that deposits in the artery wall

(which is one measure of the severity of atherosclerosis), was performed

initially and at the conclusion of the study. Blood levels of known risk

factors for heart disease, including total cholesterol, HDL (“good”)

cholesterol, LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, blood sugar, homocysteine, and

C-reactive protein were measured periodically throughout.

The amount of calcium deposition in coronary artery walls increased by

7.5% in those taking aged garlic extract, compared with a 22% increase

in those taking a placebo. This shows that aged garlic extract can

reduce the progression of atherosclerosis by 66% after one year of

treatment, which may translate into a significant reduction in

healthcare visits and mortality. No significant changes in total

cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, blood sugar,

homocysteine, or C-reactive protein were observed between the two

groups. However, a trend toward improvement in total and LDL cholesterol

and homocysteine levels was observed in those taking aged garlic. Other

larger and longer studies have shown that aged garlic extract

significantly lowers cholesterol and homocysteine levels.

Studies have shown that statin medications, such as atorvastatin

(Lipitor®), simvastatin (Zocor®), and pravastatin (Pravachol®), slow the

progression of atherosclerosis by about 22%. However, the addition of

aged garlic extract in the new study significantly enhanced the

effectiveness of statin therapy by slowing the progression of

atherosclerosis even further.

Aged garlic extract has many other known health benefits. It has been

shown to be a potent antioxidant and prevents platelet aggregation,

which makes it useful in treating intermittent claudication (pain in

legs with exercise that is only relieved with rest). Additionally, some

evidence indicates aged garlic extract may help stimulate the immune

system and test tube studies have shown that aged garlic extract has

anticancer properties. It is unknown whether aged garlic extract has the

same anticancer effects in humans. Although aged garlic extract is

generally considered safe, those with diabetes or who have had organ

transplants should consult their healthcare provider before taking it.

Darin Ingels, ND, MT (ASCP), received his bachelor’s degree from Purdue

University and his Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine from Bastyr

University in Kenmore, WA. Dr. Ingels is the author of The Natural

Pharmacist: Lowering Cholesterol (Prima, 1999) and Natural Treatments

for High Cholesterol (Prima, 2000). He currently is in private practice

at New England Family Health Associates located in Southport, CT, where

he specializes in environmental medicine and allergies. Dr. Ingels is a

regular contributor to Healthnotes and Healthnotes Newswire.

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