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 .
Inhibiting progression of coronary calcification using Aged Garlic Extract in patients receiving statin therapy: a preliminary study.
BACKGROUND Aged Garlic Extract ( AGE ) reduces multiple cardiovascular risk factors , including blood pressure , cholesterol , platelet aggregation and adhesion , while stimulating nitric oxide generation in endothelial cells . However , no study has evaluated the ability of AGE to inhibit vascular calcification , a marker of plaque formation in human coronary arteries . OBJECTIVE To assess the efficacy of Aged Garlic Extract ( AGE ) on changing the rate of atherosclerosis progression as compared to placebo . DESIGN A placebo-controlled , double-blind , r and omized pilot study to determine whether the atherosclerotic plaque burden detected by electron beam tomography ( EBT ) will change at a different rate under the influence of AGE as compared to placebo .  Twenty-three patients were enrolled , and 19 patients completed the study protocol . AGE 4 ml or the equivalent amount of placebo was given to subjects . Duration of the study was 1 year . S-allylcysteine ( SAC ) , one of the active compound of AGE , was measured in the blood as a compliance marker . RESULTS The mean change of the calcium score ( volumetric method ) for the AGE group ( n = 9 ) was 7.5 + /- 9.4 % over 1 year . The placebo group ( n = 10 ) demonstrated an average increase in calcium scores of 22.2 + /- 18.5 % , significantly greater than the treated cohort ( P = 0.046 ) . There were no significant differences in individual cholesterol parameters or C reactive protein between the groups . In patients r and omized to AGE , there was a nonsignificant trend for improving cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein ratio ( P = 0.07 ) and homocysteine level ( P = 0.08 ) . CONCLUSIONS This small pilot study indicates the potential ability of AGE to inhibit the rate of progression of coronary calcification , as compared to placebo over 1 year . Should these findings be extended and confirmed in larger studies , garlic may prove useful for patients who are at high risk of future cardiovascular events
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 .