Nutr Rev. 2001 Jul; 59(7): 236-41.

Efficacy of garlic supplementation in lowering serum cholesterol levels.

Spigelski D, Jones PJ.

School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, McGill University, Quebec, Canada.

Previous studies using garlic have found alterations on a number of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors including blood pressure, plasma viscosity, platelet activity, and serum lipid levels. The latest clinical research suggests that consumption of garlic powder does not play a significant role in lowering plasma lipid levels when in conjunction with a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet. Additional well-controlled, long-term studies that explore dosage and preparation type are necessary to confirm the efficacy of garlic in lowering cholesterol levels and to fully understand garlic's potential role in CVD.