Garlic reduces TC to a modest extent , an effect driven mostly by the modest reductions in TAG , without appreciable LDL lowering or HDL elevation .
Higher baseline line TC levels and the use of dietary modification may alter the effect of garlic on these parameters .
In order to determine the impact of  garlic on total cholesterol ( TC ) , TAG levels , as well as LDL and HDL  , and establish if any variables have an impact on the magnitude of this effect , a meta- analysis was conducted .
Effects of garlic on dyslipidemia in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
BACKGROUND Garlic ( Allium Sativum ) has been used in herbal medicine for centuries for various ailments . In recent years garlic has been the focus of serious medical and clinical attention because of beneficial effects on several cardiovascular risk factors like reduction of serum lipids , blood pressure and plasma viscosity . There is also wide spread belief among general public that garlic has beneficial effects on cardiovascular system . The purpose of present study was to evaluate the effects of garlic on one of the major cardiovascular risk factors i.e. dyslipidemia in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus . METHOD This 12 week r and omized , single-blind , placebo controlled study was conducted on Type 2 diabetic patients with newly diagnosed dyslipidemia ( n=70 ) . Patients were selected from Diabetic OPD of Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre , Karachi and were divided into two groups each comprising of 35 patients , they were given tablet garlic ( Garlex-Bosch Pharmaceuticals ) 300 mg ( containing 1.3 % allicin ) twice daily and identical placebo tablets respectively . Both groups were given diet and exercise plan . RESULTS After 12 weeks the garlic treated group ( n = 33 ) had a significant reduction in total cholesterol ( -28 mg/dl , - 12.03 % P= < 0.001 ) , LDL - C ( -30 mg/dl , - 17.99 % P=<0.001 ) while the placebo treated group ( n=32 ) had a non significant decrease in total cholesterol ( - 2 mg/dl , - 0.9 % p= ns ) and LDL-C ( -3 mg/dl , -1.6 % p = ns ) . HDL cholesterol was significantly increased in patients treated with garlic ( 3.35 mg/dl , 8.81 % P= < 0.05 ) compared with placebo group ( 0.62 , 1.6 % P= n.s ) but there was no significant difference in triglyceride was observed between two groups . CONCLUSION This study suggests possible small short term benefits of garlic on dyslipidemia in type 2 diabetic patients .  Garlic significantly reduced serum total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol and moderately raised HDL cholesterol as compared to placebo . Controlled Clinical Trials of longer duration are needed to assess the long term benefit of garlic on vascular and circulatory disease processes
Garlic reduces TC to a modest extent , an effect driven mostly by the modest reductions in TAG , without appreciable LDL lowering or HDL elevation .
Higher baseline line TC levels and the use of dietary modification may alter the effect of garlic on these parameters .
In order to determine the impact of  garlic on total cholesterol ( TC ) , TAG levels , as well as LDL and HDL  , and establish if any variables have an impact on the magnitude of this effect , a meta- analysis was conducted .