Disease prevention and treatment

From immune enhancement to cancer prevention, Garlic’s health benefit is wide ranging. Many clinical studies have showed that garlic/allicin has the ability lower total cholesterol, LDL, or “bad cholesterol” and triglycerides, and increase HDL cholesterol. (2,3) This in turn may aid in the prevention of heart-related conditions such as heart attack, atherosclerosis, and stroke. In addition, garlic/allicin may support the overall health of the circulatory system, which may helps in lowering the risk of heart attack and strokes. (4,5) Specifically garlic activities are believed to have the following positive effects:

Prevention of cardiovascular attacks:

  • Reduce blood cholesterol (Hyperlipidemia) level. (6)
    Garlic might lower cholesterol level by acting as an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (also known as Statin – a class of hypolipidemic agents, used in pharmaceuticals to lower cholesterol levels in people at risk for cardiovascular disease because of hypercholesterolemia) Click here for additional information
  • Reduce the risk of strokes, heart attacks and various heart diseases. (7)
    Garlic is believed to reduce oxidative stress and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation and have anti-thrombotic effects. Click here for additional information
  • Reduce high blood pressure. (8)
    Garlic is believed to reduce blood pressure by causing smooth muscle relaxation and vasodilatation (widening of blood vessels) following the relaxation of smooth muscle in the vessel wall) by activating the production of endothelium-derived relaxation factor.

Restore suppressed antibody responses. (9)

Garlic might stimulate both humoral and cellular immunity, causing T-cell proliferation and thus restoring suppressed antibody response. Garlic/allicin is also believed to stimulate macrophage cytotoxicity on tumor cells.

Broad spectrum of antimicrobial activities. (10)

Perhaps allicin’s most important power in our modern age of antibiotic-resistant germs and ever-new microbial diseases is its amazingly broad-spectrum of antimicrobial activity. In their 1999 review of allicin antimicrobial activities, Ankri and Mirelman reported on the antibacterial, antifungal, antiparasite, antiviral activity of allicin. Click here for additional information

Preventing the common cold (11)

Garlic was found to be effective in preventing attack by the common cold virus. It also helps in a faster recovery of common cold. Click here for additional information

Prevention and treatment of cancer (12)

Garlic has shown promise in both the prevention and treatment of cancer. Studies found that cultures with a high garlic intake have comparatively low cancer rate. (13) Clinical studies also suggested that garlic/allicin may inhibit the formation of nitrosamine, possibly reducing the role of nitrosamine in cancer. (14)
Footnote:
  1. Tyler, V. Herbs of Choice, the Therapeutical Use of Phytomedicines. Binghamton: Pharmaceutical Oress; 1994
  2. Ernst E. Cardio Protection and Garlic. Lancet. 1997;349(9045):131.
  3. Agarwal KC. Therapeutic Actions of Garlic Constitutes. Med Res Rev. 1996; 16(1):111-24
  4. Kiesewetter H, et al. Effect of Garlic on Platelet Aggregation in Patients with Increased Risk of Juvenile Ischemic Attack. Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 1993;45(4)333-36
  5. Bordia A. Effect of Garlic on Blood Lipids in Patients with Coronary Heart Disease. Am J Clin Nutr. 1981;34(10):2100-03
  6. Qureshi AA, et al. Suppression of avian hepatic lipid metabolism by solvent extract of garlic: impact on serum lipids. J Nutr 1983; 113:1746-55.
  7. Dirsch VM, et al. Effect of allicin and ajoene, two compounds of garlic, on inducible nitric oxide synthase. Atherosclerosis 1998;139:333-9
  8. Pedraza-Chaverri J, et al. Garlic prevents hypertension induced by chronic inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis. Life Sci 1998;62:71-7.
  9. Hodge G, et al. Allium sativum (garlic) suppresses leukocyte inflammatory cytokine production in vitro: potential therapeutic use in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. Cytometry 2002;48:209-15.
  10. Ankri S, et al. Antimicrobial properties of allicin from garlic. Mirobes Infect 1999; 1:125-9.
  11. Jostling PD. Preventing the common cold with garlic supplement contains allicin: A double blind, placebo controlled survey. Advance in Therapy; Volume 18 No.4
  12. Thomson M, Ali M. Garlic [Allium sativum]: a review of its potential use as an anti-cancer agent. Curr Cancer Drug targets. Feb 2003;3(1):67-81
  13. Dorant E, et al. Garlic and Its Significance for the Prevention of Cancer in Humans: A Critical View. Br J Cancer. 1993;67:424-69
  14. Dorant E, et al. Garlic and Its Significance for the Prevention of Cancer in Humans: A Critical View. Br J Cancer. 1993;67:424-69