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 .
Hypocholesterolemic Effect of an Enteric-Coated Garlic Supplement
Objective : To evaluate the hypocholesterolemic effect of an enteric-coated garlic supplement st and ardized for allicin-releasing potential in mild to moderate hypercholesterolemic patients . Methods : A double-blind r and omized , placebo-controlled intervention study was conducted in 46 hypercholesterolemic subjects who had failed or were not compliant with drug therapy . Each subject was given dietary counseling to lower fat intake and enteric-coated Australian garlic powder tablets with 9.6 mg allicin-releasing potential or matching placebo tablets . Results : After 12 weeks , the garlic supplement group ( n=22 ) had a significant reduction in total cholesterol ( TC , −0.36 mmol/L , −4.2 % ) and LDL-cholesterol ( LDL-C , −0.44 mmol/L , −6.6 % ) while the placebo group ( n=24 ) had a non-significant increase in TC ( 0.13 mmol/L , 2.0 % ) and LDL-C ( 0.18 mmol/L , 3.7 % ) . HDL-cholesterol was significantly increased in the placebo group ( 0.09 mmol/L , 9.1 % ) , compared to the garlic group ( −0.02 mmol/L , −0.9 % ) , and no significant difference in triglycerides or in LDL/HDL ratio was observed between groups . Conclusions : The study demonstrates that enteric-coated garlic powder supplements with 9.6 mg allicin-releasing potential may have value in mild to moderate hypercholesterolemic patients when combined with a low fat diet . Taken with other evidence , the efficacy of garlic for lipoprotein metabolism might require allicin bioavailability to be enhanced through the use of , for example , an enteric-coated dose form . If this is the case , the possibility remains that greater hypocholesterolemic efficacy may be evident at a higher allicin dose . Also noteworthy in this study was a small reduction in energy intake with garlic compared with placebo , attributable to reduction in fat , carbohydrate and alcohol intakes . This may also have contributed to the effects on blood lipids . This study suggests that garlic supplementation has a cholesterol-lowering effect , which may be mediated by direct action of a biologically active compound or compounds and in part through the effect on food and nutrient intake
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 .