What is the difference between garlic supplements?
The garlic supplements available on the market can be placed into the following four categories: 1) Garlic oil; 2) Garlic powder; 3) Garlic oil macerates; 4) Aged garlic extract 1) GARLIC OIL: Made by distilling crushed garlic; the resulting condensed oils are then mixed with vegetable oil and packaged in soft gel capsules. Contains only a minimal amount of garlic essential oil due to its high cost and pungency, the rest being approximately 99% vegetable oil Contains only the oil-soluble compounds found in garlic which are the most potent sources of garlic odor. Lacks beneficial water-soluble compounds 2) GARLIC POWDER: Dehydrated and pulverized garlic Typically tableted or encapsulated with parsley, mint or citrus or sugar-coated to decrease odor Chemically very similar to common, inexpensive garlic flavoring/spice powders/condiments Allicin content is often emphasized in these products, however various garlic products tested contained no allicin due to the instability of allicin Some
