Garlic has a long history of folklore use for a wide variety of ailments from headaches to colds to acne. It has also been used to lower blood pressure. A 2010 study by the Institute of Preventive and Clinical Medicine in Slovakia explains that red blood cells convert the chemicals in garlic to hydrogen sulfide, which then relaxes blood vessels. Garlic was the fourth highest selling herbal supplement in the United States in 2009, according to the American Botanical Council. As with any supplement, you should consult your doctor before taking garlic.
What Is Aged Garlic?
Kyolic supplements are sold by Wakunaga Nutritional Supplements. Kyolic aged garlic is produced by incubating garlic in a solution of ethanol and water. The resulting product is then standardized with S-allyl cysteine, or SAC. The garlic produced is odorless. Several supplements in the Kyolic line of products contain aged garlic, including their immune and healthy heart formulas.
Evidence
Evidence supporting aged garlic and its ability to lower blood pressure is compelling. A 2008 analysis by Hartford Hospital in Connecticut of controlled trials using garlic found that garlic lowered systolic blood pressure by 16.3 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure by 9.3 mm Hg, the top and bottom numbers of your blood pressure, respectively. Effects occurred only in individuals with existing high blood pressure. These findings support another 2008 study by University of Adelaide in South Australia. Participants with existing high blood pressure experienced decreases of 8.4 +/- 2.8 mm Hg in systolic pressure and 7.3 +/- 1.5 mm Hg for diastolic blood pressure.
Clotting Activity
Aged garlic may provide additional health benefits that can lower the risks of high blood pressure. A 2001 study by East Carolina University School of Medicine in North Carolina found that aged garlic inhibited clot formation by platelets in the blood. Researchers concluded that the effects were selective and dose-dependent. Clots can lead to blockages in blood vessels, causing a stroke or heart attack. By influencing two major risk factors for heart disease, aged garlic may provide cardiovascular health benefits.
Cholesterol Management
High cholesterol can cause formation of plaque lining the interior of blood vessels. This will narrow the openings for blood to pass and raise blood pressure. Aged garlic may help prevent this from occurring. A 1996 study by Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island found that aged garlic lowered total cholesterol by 6.1 to 7 percent after four weeks of administration. In addition, researchers noted a 4 percent decrease in LDL, or "bad," cholesterol. Taken together, garlic may reduce the risk of heart disease on several fronts. However, consult your doctor before taking garlic if you are taking a blood thinner or aspirin.
References
- "Bratislavske Lekarske Listy"; Garlic (Allium sativum L.) and Cardiovascular Diseases; E. Ginter and V. Simko; 2010
- "Herbal Gram"; Herbal Supplement Sales Rise in All Channels in 2009; C. Cavaliere, et al.; Spring 2010
- Linus Pauling Institute; Garlic; Victoria J. Drake; July 2008
- Kyolic: Aged Garlic Extract
- "Annals of Pharmacotherapy"; Effects of Garlic on Blood Pressure in Patients With and Without Systolic Hypertension: A Meta-Analysis; K. Reinhart, et al.; December 2008
- "BMC Cardiovascular Disorders"; Effect of Garlic on Blood Pressure: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis; K. Ried, et al.; June 2008
