GARLIC BETTER THAN STATIN DRUGS FOR PREVENTING HEART ATTACKS

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GARLIC BETTER THAN STATIN DRUGS FOR PREVENTING HEART ATTACKS

JoAnn Guest

Jan 14, 2004 20:01 PST

 

GARLIC BETTER THAN STATIN DRUGS FOR PREVENTING HEART ATTACKS

by Alan Tillotson, Ph.D., AHG

http://www.planetherbs.com/

 

Recent TV ads from major cholesterol-lowering drugs like Lipitor

flash

language stating that the medicines do not prevent heart attacks or

heart disease.

 

In comparison, the below scientific reports deal with the much more

important purpose of lowering cholesterol - to prevent vessel

clogging,

how garlic effects can be made stronger with fish oils, and finally

estimates on the core issue of garlic's effectiveness in preventing

real

heart attacks.

 

The antiatherosclerotic effect of Allium sativum.Koscielny J,

Klussendorf D, Latza R, Schmitt R, Radtke H, Siegel G,

Kiesewetter H. Atherosclerosis 1999 May;144(1):237-49

 

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial,

the

plaque volumes in both carotid and femoral arteries of 152

probationers

were determined by B-mode ultrasound.

 

Continuous intake of high-dose garlic powder dragees reduced

significantly the increase in arteriosclerotic plaque volume by 5-

18% or

even effected a slight regression within the observational period of

48

months.

 

Also the age-dependent representation of the plaque volume shows an

increase between 50 and 80 years that is diminished under garlic

treatment by 6-13% related to 4 years.

 

It seems even more important that with garlic application the plaque

volume in the whole collective remained practically constant within

the

age-span of 50-80 years. These results substantiated that not only a

preventive but possibly also a curative role in arteriosclerosis

therapy

(plaque regression) may be ascribed to garlic remedies.

 

Publication Types:

* Clinical Trial

* Randomized Controlled Trial

 

J Natl Med Assoc 1997 Oct;89(10):673-8

Modulation of lipid profile by fish oil and garlic combination.

Morcos

NC. Division of Cardiology, University of California, Irvine 92717,

USA.

Fish consumption has been shown to influence epidemiology of heart

disease, and garlic has been shown to influence triglyceride levels.

 

This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of fish oil and

garlic

combinations as a dietary supplement on the lipid subfractions.

Forty

consecutive subjects with lipid profile abnormalities were enrolled

in a

single-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study. Each subject

received

placebo for 1 month and fish oil (1800 mg of eicosapentanoic acid

[EPA]

+ 1200 mg of docosahexanoic acid) with garlic powder (1200 mg)

capsules

daily for 1 month.

 

Lipid fractionation was performed prior to study initiation, after

the

placebo period, and after the intervention period. Subjects all had

cholesterol levels > 200. Subjects were instructed to maintain their

usual diets.

 

Supplementation for 1 month resulted in an 11% decrease in

cholesterol,

a 34% decrease in triglyceride, and a 10% decrease in low-density

lipoprotein (LDL) levels, as well as a 19% decrease in

cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein (HDL) risk. Although not

significant, there was a trend toward increase in HDL. There was no

significant placebo effect.

 

These results suggest that in addition to the known anticoagulant

and

antioxidant properties of both fish oil and garlic, the combination

causes favorable shifts in the lipid subfractions within 1 month.

Triglycerides are affected to the largest extent. The cholesterol

lowering and improvement in lipid/HDL risk ratios suggests that

these

combinations may have antiatherosclerotic properties and may protect

against the development of coronary artery disease.

 

Publication Types:

* Clinical Trial

* Randomized Controlled Trial

 

Wien Med Wochenschr 1999;149(8-10):217-24 [Pleiotropic effects of

garlic] [Article in German] Siegel G, Walter A, Engel S, Walper A,

Michel F. Institut fur Physiologie, Universitatsklinikums Benjamin

Franklin, Freien Universitat Berlin, Deutschland.

sie-

 

Garlic as a herbal remedy reduces a multitude of risk factors which

play

a decisive role in the genesis and progression of arteriosclerosis:

decrease in total and LDL-cholesterol, increase in HDL-cholesterol,

reduction of serum

triglyceride and fibrinogen concentration, lowering of arterial

blood

pressure and promotion of organ perfusion, and, finally, enhancement

in

fibrinolysis, inhibition of platelet aggregation, and diminution of

plasma viscosity.

 

In a prospective, 4-year clinical trial with primary endpoint

'arteriosclerotic plaque volume' it was proven not only a 9 to 18%

reduction and 3% regression in plaque volume of the total collective

under the influence of standardized garlic powder dragees (900

mg/die LI

111), but also of some facets of the phytopharmacologic pleiotropy

of

this herb: decrease in LDL level by 4%, increase in HDL

concentration by

8%, and lowering in blood pressure by 7%.

 

The reduction of arterial blood pressure is due to an additional

opening

of K(Ca) ion channels in the membrane of vascular smooth muscle

cells

that effects its hyperpolarization.

 

This membrane hyperpolarization closes about 20% of the L-type Ca2+

channels, consequence of which is vasodilatation. In human coronary

arteries, the increase in vascular diameter by 4% is closely

associated

with an improvement of coronary perfusion by 18%.

 

These pleiotropic effects of garlic result in a reduction of

relative

cardiovascular risk for infarction and stroke by more than 50%.

 

Alan Keith Tillotson, PhD, AHG

1008 Milltown Rd., Wilm., DE 19808 USA

(302) 994-0565 (302) 995-0653 fax

 

Email: Ala-

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