Study Crushes Garlic's Claim to Lower Cholesterol

Gardner and his team noted that in order to match the properties found in four grams of fresh garlic, patients in the two supplement groups actually consumed slightly more than the daily-recommended dosage printed on either supplement's label.

The results: Blood tests revealed thatnoneof the garlic options had any "clinically relevant effect" on LDL concentrations over the course of the study, either in the short run or the long run.

They concluded that neither dietary garlic nor supplements are likely to offer any such benefit to most patients seeking to lower their LDL levels.

Nevertheless, future research might identify certain sub-groups of people who might still derive LDL-lowering benefit from garlic (such as those with more severe LDL elevations) or that higher daily doses of garlic consumption might prove at least somewhat effective.

"We are actually very disappointed with the results we do have," admitted Gardner. "We really thought garlic was going to work. Now, maybe you could say the supplements didn't work because they're not the same as fresh garlic. But then, fresh garlic should've worked, if anything was going to work. And it didn't."

"So, I'd say you really ought to just enjoy your hummus with whole wheat bread and your Asian vegetable stir-fry with garlic, which, of course, makes it so much more enjoyable," joked Gardner. "But if you're going to take a garlic supplement, it should be for something other than cholesterol lowering, because in real life it doesn't work."

Ruth Kava, director of nutrition at the American Council on Science and Health in New York City, expressed little surprise at the study findings.

"I think that what's happened over the last 10 to 12 years in this country is that supplements have gotten a much better rep than many deserve," she said. "The garlic claim has been out there for quite a while, but manufacturers have been making all sorts of qualified claims that aren't really backed up with substantial clinical evidence."

While Kava called for more research to confirm the latest finding, she encouraged patients looking to lower their cholesterol in other ways to take advantage of proven methods.

"The tried and true things that are going to lower LDL cholesterol are statins, which, although they can't be taken by everyone, are really very effective; and lifestyle changes such eating a diet with less saturated fat, getting exercise, and losing weight," she advised. "Unfortunately, there is no magic pill."

More information

For additional information on LDL, visit the American Heart Association.

SOURCES: Christopher D. Gardner, Ph.D., nutrition scientist and assistant professor, Stanford Prevention Research Center and department of medicine, Stanford University Medical School, Stanford, Calif.; Ruth Kava, Ph.D., R.D., director of nutrition, American Council on Science and Health, New York City; Feb. 26, 2007,Archives of Internal Medicine