How Does Garlic Lower Blood Cholesterol?

Garlic and Cholesterol

Garlic, often touted by experts as a super food, provides a multitude of health benefits. The garlic plant is popular both for the many flavors it produces when cooked as well as the positive impact that it has in the human body. Garlic has been used for centuries for medicinal purposes and was even discovered in King Tut's tomb in ancient Egypt, according to CBC News. One health problem that garlic may help is cholesterol. Cholesterol exists in the body in two forms: low-density lipoprotein and high-density lipoprotein. LDL cholesterol has negative effects in the body because when it circulates in the blood it can build up on arterial walls and form unhealthy plaque. HDL cholesterol carries LDL cholesterol away from the arteries and thus decreases the likelihood of heart attack.

Support of Garlic's Cholesterol-lowering Properties

Scientists have been interested in foods that aid in lowering cholesterol for some time. Researchers span both sides of the garlic and cholesterol debate. A variety of properties in garlic appear to positively impact the human cardiovascular system. Due to the high antioxidant content of garlic, scientists believe that this plant may reduce the effects of LDL cholesterol in the body. Antioxidants prevent the oxidization of free radicals that help form arterial plaque. Therefore, by reducing the prevalence of free radicals in the body, antioxidants decrease plaque buildup.

Yu-Yan Yeh, a researcher from Penn State University, conducted multiple studies over several years evaluating the cholesterol-lowering properties found in garlic. He discovered that both in rats and humans, garlic resulted in a lowering of overall blood cholesterol levels. Garlic's many benefits are not limited to cholesterol; however, evidence refuting these claims exist as well.

Research Refuting Garlic's Cholesterol-lowering Properties

A meta-analysis conducted at the University of Essex in England found that some studies comparing garlic and cholesterol revealed a correlation between garlic consumption and cholesterol lowering compared to those who took a placebo and experienced no cholesterol decreases. However, they also analyzed six studies that did not reveal a relationship between garlic use and cholesterol, according to Health Link.

Recently more publications have advertised the possibility that garlic may not have any effects on cholesterol. USA Today reported that in a 2007 study, published in The Archives of Internal Medicine, garlic given to people with relatively high levels of LDL cholesterol did not reveal any significant changes than those participants given a placebo. The study involved 192 adults separated into four groups. Three groups took a from of garlic, either raw, in supplement form or as an extract. The fourth group took a placebo.

Regardless of research potentially undermining the impact of garlic on cholesterol, garlic can benefit the body in a multitude of other ways. Garlic has antibacterial properties and thus can ward off harmful bacteria like Salmonella. Garlic has also been found to help with acne, blood clots and slowing the aging process of the liver.