The effect of garlic in prevention and control of cardiovascular disorders

The aim of this review was to evaluate the effect of different preparations of garlic with different methodologies on prevention and control of cardiovascular disorders. Almost 30 articles and abstracts from 1990-2003 were searched through Medline. Most of the studies between 1990-1993 showed the significant reduction of TC by garlic powder but a recent controlled study in 2000 found that consumption of 900 mg of dried garlic powder for 12 weeks by hypercholesterolemic subjects did not have any significant effect on TC, LDL-C and HDL-C. The evidences of some double-blinded randomized placebo-controlled or crossover interventions indicated that aged garlic extract (AGE) inhibits the oxidation of LDL, aggregation and adhesion of platelets in a dose-dependent manner. In one animal study using cultured rat hepatocyte it was found 44-87% inhibition of cholesterol synthesis by the water-extractable fraction (WEE) methanol-extractable fraction (MEF) and petroleum ether-extractable fraction of fresh garlic and liquid form of AGE. In recent study in 2003 AGE found to be an effective antioxidant as it scavenged superoxide ions and reduced lipid peroxides in cell free assays. Standard formulations such as AGE has a role in preventing the development and progression of atherosclerotic disease but more controlled studies are warranted.