HOW EFFECTIVE IS GARLIC IN LOWERING BLOOD CHOLESTEROL LEVELS?
(June 2001) That is the subject of a review of thirteen studies in the Annals of Internal Medicine in September 2000. When the thirteen studies were considered together, the average cholesterol drop was about 15 milligrams, a reduction of 5.8 percent in cholesterol level. However, when the authors analyzed the six studies conducted with the best methodology (that is, the six best studies), the reduction in cholesterol level was less, 4.3 percent. In ten of the thirteen studies, the preparation used was a powder called Kwai. The authors conclude “our results suggest that garlic is superior to placebo in reducing elevated total cholesterol levels. Patients should be advised that according to current evidence any specific effect is small”. Commentary: This is a careful review. Although the drop in cholesterol levels with garlic is small, it is comparable to the approximately, on average, 5 percent effect that may be observed after dietary changes alone (including lowering the amount of sa
