Data published in Phytomedicine indicated that garlic supplements could reduce systolic and diastolic blood pressure by an average of 6.71 mmHg and 4.79 mmHg, respectively.

“The present meta-analysis suggests that garlic is an effective and safe approach for the management of hypertension, which may be an alternative therapy in patients with a history of AEs related to antihypertensive drugs,” wrote the authors.

Allicin

Consumer awareness of the health benefits of garlic, mostly in terms of cardiovascular and immune system health, has benefited the supplements industry, particularly since consumers seek the benefits of garlic without the odors that accompany the fresh bulb.

The benefits have been linked to the compound allicin, which is not found in fresh garlic; It is only formed when garlic is crushed, which breaks down a compound called diallyl sulphide.

Study details

Led by scientists from the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, the authors searched PubMed, the Cochrane Library and EMBASE for appropriate articles and found seven randomized, placebo-controlled trials comparing garlic vs. a placebo in hypertensives.

Pooling the data indicated that, compared with placebo, garlic was associated with significant lowering of both systolic and diastolic blood pressure.