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 .
The effect of a garlic preparation on the composition of plasma lipoproteins and erythrocyte membranes in geriatric subjects.
This study evaluated the effect of a dried garlic powder preparation , st and ardised to 1.3 % alliin , on the composition of plasma lipoproteins and erythrocyte membranes . Forty volunteers , aged 70 years and over , took 600 mg of garlic powder per day for three months . In participants with initially normal plasma cholesterol levels ( CH less than 200 mg/dl ; n = 11 ) after three months of garlic tablet administration , little or no change in CH values was registered , as for most of the other parameters . In contrast , in volunteers with initially elevated CH levels ( CH greater than 200 mg/dl , n = 29 ) , the CH levels were reduced by -7.7 % ( p less than 0.001 ) . This reduction took place primarily in the esterified cholesterol fraction ( -12 % , p less than 0.001 ) , whereas free cholesterol concentrations were not altered significantly . Triglycerides ( -15.9 % , p less than 0.05 ) and plasma choline phospholipids ( -4.6 % , p less than 0.01 ) were also reduced . No change of the plasma LDL-CH to HDL-CH ratio was observed in this group . Based on the weight of lyophilised , haemoglobin-free erythrocytes , the mean membrane concentration of phospholipids and cholesterol in the total cohort ( n = 40 ) increased by 5.7 % ( p less than 0.001 ) and 6.1 % ( p less than 0.01 ) , respectively . These increases were more pronounced the lower the body mass indices ( kg/m2 ) were , and the longer the duration of garlic administration was . The molar ratio of membrane phospholipids to cholesterol remained unchanged . The results are discussed with regard to a possible role of the garlic-induced membrane effects in the plasma lipid-lowering potency of garlic and preparations made from it
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 .