Cholesterol is a type of fat.
High blood cholesterol levels are associated with an increased risk for heart disease, stroke, and other circulation problems. High cholesterol levels can be treated with a low-fat diet, exercise, or drugs. Some previous studies have suggested that large amounts of garlic in the diet can also lower cholesterol levels. Many of those studies were small, however, which makes them hard to interpret, and the size of the reduction in cholesterol that can be achieved with garlic is uncertain. To examine the effect of garlic on total cholesterol levels in persons with high cholesterol levels.