Garlic is frequently taken as a dietary supplement to prevent and treat a number of health conditions including high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Garlic is often sold with the promise that it can help lower high cholesterol. However, although garlic is generally safe and probably won't harm you, the effects of garlic on lowering cholesterol may be modest, at best.
Effects
Numerous controlled trials have been conducted to study the effects of the oral consumption of garlic and it effect on cholesterol. The Mayo Clinic says research, in general, has found that garlic appears to have a slight, but temporary, impact on cholesterol levels.
Considerations
A meta-analysis, or mathematically combined data from several studies, published in the "Annals of Internal Medicine" in September 2000 reviewed 45 controlled studies involving 796 participants. According to Harvard Medical School, the researchers concluded that garlic supplements decreased total cholesterol by 16 mg/dL.
Supplements vs. Natural Garlic
The cholesterol-lowering effects of garlic, or the lack thereof, appear to be the same whether you eat raw garlic or take it in tablet form. A Stanford University study randomly divided 169 participants with moderately high cholesterol into four groups. The first group received raw garlic, the second was given powdered garlic supplement, the third an aged extract supplement and the fourth was given a placebo. The 6-month-long study concluded that garlic, regardless of its form, had a statistically insignificant effect on the LDL cholesterol levels. The findings of the study were published in the "Archives of Internal Medicine" in February 2007.
Side Effects
The most widespread and least serious side effects of garlic are bad breath and body odor. Less common adverse reactions include increased sweating, headaches, dizziness, itching and running nose.
Precautions
Allergic reactions associated with garlic include swelling and breathing trouble. Garlic can cause blood to thin, thus reducing the ability of blood to properly clot. You may not want to eat garlic or take garlic supplements if you have a bleeding disorder or plan to have surgery.
