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 .
Effect of garlic (Allium sativum) on blood lipids, blood sugar, fibrinogen and fibrinolytic activity in patients with coronary artery disease.
Thirty patients with coronary artery disease ( CAD ) were administered garlic ( study group ) while another 30 patients received the  placebo ( control group )  . Various risk parameters were determined at 1.5 and 3 months of garlic administration . Garlic , administered in a daily dose of 2 x 2 capsules ( each capsule containing ethyl acetate extract from 1 g peeled and crushed raw garlic ) , reduced significantly total serum cholesterol and triglycerides , and increased significantly HDL-cholesterol and fibrinolytic activity . There was no effect on the fibrinogen and glucose levels . In vitro effects of the garlic oil on platelet aggregation ( PAg ) and eicosanoid metabolism were examined ; it inhibited PAg induced by several platelet agonists , and also platelet thromboxane formation . Two important paraffinic polysulphides - diallyl disulphide ( DADS ) and diallyl trisulphide ( DATS ) - derived from garlic and are usual constituents of garlic oil , showed antiplatelet activity , and also inhibited platelet thromboxane formation . In this respect DATS was more potent than DADS .  The nature of inhibition of PAg by DATS was found to be reversible
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 .