Be Ready for Questions About Garlic and Cardiovascular Health

Learn about garlic’s potential cardiovascular benefits, including its effects on blood pressure, cholesterol, and atherosclerosis.
Mahitab Hany, BS Pharm, PGDipClinPharm, PGDipClinNutrition, BCNSP

You’ll be asked about the CV benefits of garlic as people focus on heart health during February. Garlic is touted for a variety of uses, partly due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Know when taking oral garlic may be possibly effective.

For instance, daily garlic may lower SBP by about 8 mm Hg and DBP by 5 mm Hg, drop total cholesterol by about 20 mg/dL and LDL cholesterol by 10 mg/dL, and reduce coronary artery calcium progression, which is a marker of atherosclerosis, by about 30%. But put these findings in perspective.

Emphasize that garlic may improve some CV risk factors, but there’s no proof that it reduces CV events, such as heart attack or stroke. And point out limitations of the data for garlic. For example, most BP studies are of lower quality and short duration. And cholesterol reduction studies are often in patients with at least borderline high lipids taking garlic longer than 8 weeks.

NPS-adv

Share tips if patients want to try garlic for heart health. Be aware, dosing and products vary widely across studies. But keep in mind that garlic supplements are often tried in doses of 1,200 mg twice daily, and garlic powder or aged garlic extract products are frequently used in CV studies. Educate that taking oral garlic generally seems safe and well tolerated. But point out that common side effects include bad breath, body odor, and GI upset.

Be alert for possible interactions. For example, garlic might have antiplatelet effects, and increase bleeding risk if combined with antiplatelets, anticoagulants, etc. Caution to avoid medicinal doses of garlic in pregnancy or lactation, it’s reported to have abortifacient effects and is linked with changes in milk odor and extended nursing times.

References

  1. TRC Healthcare. Garlic. [Natural Medicines website]. Available at: https://naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com/databases/herbs-supplements/professional.aspx.
  2. Rahman K, Lowe GM. Garlic and cardiovascular disease: a critical review. J Nutr. 2006;136(3 Suppl):736S-740S.
Mahitab Hany, BS Pharm, PGDipClinPharm, PGDipClinNutrition, BCNSP