The Effect of Aged Garlic Supplementation on Blood Pressure and Lipid Profile: A Dose-Response Grade-Assessed Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
Level 1 - systematic review of randomized trials
Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
PubMed 40628369 · doi:10.1002/ptr.70032
What was done
Researchers performed a systematic review and meta-analysis across Scopus, PubMed, Medline via Ovid, ISI Web of Science, and Google Scholar through May 2024. They evaluated randomized clinical trials investigating the effects of aged garlic on systolic and diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, and HDL. Weighted mean differences (WMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using a random-effects model.
What was found
Nineteen trials were included. Aged garlic significantly reduced systolic blood pressure (WMD: -2.49 mmHg; 95% CI: -4.02 to -0.95; I2 = 29.76%) and LDL (WMD: -4.41 mg/dL; 95% CI: -8.28 to -0.54; I2 = 55.78%). It did not significantly affect diastolic blood pressure or HDL, though total cholesterol reduction approached significance (WMD: -4.74 mg/dL; 95% CI: -9.49 to 0.01; I2 = 74.84%). Subgroup analyses showed significant effects on systolic blood pressure and triglycerides in cardiovascular disease patients, and on diastolic blood pressure in hypercholesterolemic patients. Point estimates for overall non-significant outcomes were not provided in the abstract.
Why it matters
These findings suggest aged garlic provides modest reductions in systolic blood pressure and LDL cholesterol, supporting its role as a potential complementary intervention in cardiovascular risk management.
Limits
The total participant count, specific dosages, formulations, and intervention durations are not reported in the abstract. Statistical heterogeneity was moderate to substantial for lipid outcomes (I2 = 55.78% for LDL, 74.84% for total cholesterol), and the overall clinical effect sizes are small.
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