Garlic’s effect on blood pressure reviewed

Reviewers from Hartford Hospital in Connecticut report that garlic lowers blood pressure in patients with an elevated systolic blood pressure (SBP), but not in people with normal SBP.

First, the details.

• Data from 10 studies in English or German and reporting SBP or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were combined for a meta-analysis.
• 3 studies included patients with elevated SBP.

And, the results.

• Garlic reduced SBP by 16 mm Hg and DBP by 9 mmHg vs placebo.
• Garlic did not reduce blood pressure in people with normal SBP.

The bottom line?
The authors concluded, “Garlic is associated with blood pressure reductions in patients with an elevated SBP although not in those without elevated SBP.”

Another meta-analysis published earlier this year came to similar conclusions. “Garlic preparations are superior to placebo in reducing blood pressure in individuals with hypertension.”

And “the effect of garlic preparations on systolic and diastolic blood pressures are comparable to the hypotensive effects of commonly-prescribed blood pressure drugs.”

11/20/08 22:02 JR