Ried K, et al. – This study was designed to examine the impact of aged garlic extract on central blood pressure and arterial stiffness. Researchers reported that in a large proportion of patients with uncontrolled hypertension, aged garlic extract was found to be effective in attenuating peripheral and central blood pressure. Furthermore, it showed the potential to improve arterial stiffness, inflammation, and other cardiovascular markers in patients with elevated levels. Essentially, it was noted that as a stand–alone or adjunctive antihypertensive treatment, aged garlic extract displayed high tolerability with a high safety profile.

Methods

• Researchers performed a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial of 12 weeks including 88 general practice patients and community members with uncontrolled hypertension in order to assess the impact of daily intake of aged garlic extract (1.2 g containing 1.2 mg S-allylcysteine) or placebo on blood pressure, and secondary outcome measures of central-hemodynamics and other cardiovascular markers, including cholesterol, homocysteine, platelet function, and inflammatory markers.

Results

• Findings demonstrated that mean blood pressure was significantly reduced by 5.0±2.1 mmHg (P=0.016) systolic, and in responders by 11.5±1.9 mmHg systolic and 6.3±1.1 mmHg diastolic compared to placebo (P<0.001).
• Researchers observed that central hemodynamic-measures tended to improve in the garlic group more than in the placebo group, including central blood pressure, central pulse pressure, mean arterial pressure, augmentation pressure, pulse-wave velocity, and arterial stiffness.
• Data revealed that while changes in other cardiovascular markers did not reach significance due to small numbers in subgroups with elevated levels, trends in beneficial effects of garlic on the inflammatory markers TNFα, total cholesterol, low-density lipid cholesterol, and apolipoproteins were observed.
• Additionally, researchers noted that aged garlic extract was highly tolerable and acceptable, and did not increase the risk of bleeding in patients on blood-thinning medication.