Garlic Powder Tablets Reduce Atherogenicity
of Low Density Lipoprotein.
A Placebo-Controlled Double-Blind Study

This section is compiled by Frank M. Painter, D.C.
Send all comments or additions to:    Frankp@chiro.org

Nutrition and Metabolism and Cardiovascular Disease, 1996;   6:   21-31

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In a placebo-controlled double-blind trial of 23 subjects with coronary artery disease who had 1 to 3 major coronary arteries that were 75% blocked or higher, 300 mg of garlic powder from 1 Kwai tablet, 2 and 4 hours after a single dose, showed the atherogenicity of the patients sera to be markedly decreased. There was less cholesterol accumulation in human aortic smooth muscle cells cultured with patients sera after treatment compared with those cultured with sera obtained prior to the administration of the garlic. After 3 weeks of long-term Kwai therapy at 300 mg, 3 times daily, blood serum atherogenicity was significantly lower compared with initial levels. A two-fold decrease in atherogenicity was recorded 4 weeks after Kwai therapy. Long-term therapy lowered the atherogenicity of LDL isolated from patients plasma. The atherogenicity of LDL isolated 2 hours after a single dose of Kwai did not change and remained unchanged during 7 days of therapy. The ability of LDL to induce intracellular cholesterol accumulation was decreased by 38% on the 28th day of therapy. The ability of LDL to stimulate proliferation of cultured cells was also decreased as a result of long-term therapy with Kwai. Atherogenic LDL isolated from patients had a lower content of sialic acid compared with native LDL of healthy subjects. The sialic acid content of LDL did not change after single-dose administration and after 7 days of therapy. At the end of the 28 days of therapy, the sialic acid content of LDL was significantly higher than at the beginning of therapy. The authors believe that the decrease in LDL atherogenicity by garlic powder tablets was due to increased sialic acid content rather than a decreased susceptibility to LDL oxidation.

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