Document Type
Article
Department
Family Medicine
Abstract
Introduction:.Rapidly growing prevalence of cardiovascular disease is a major threat for the developed as well as developing world warranting urgent need of intervention. Complementary and alternative medicines are gaining popularity among general population because of their safety profile and easy administration. Garlic, in particular, is considered to be one of the best disease-preventive foods because of its potent and widespread effects. This study was done to find out the role of garlic usage in cardiovascular disease prevention.
Methodology : .Major databases including Google, PubMed,MEDLINE, and Cochrane library view were used for the literature search. Clinical trials conducted on humans assessing role of garlic usage in cardiovascular disease prevention and the possible mechanisms responsible for such therapeutic actions were assessed.
Results : Various clinical trials and meta-analyses conducted have shown positive impact of garlic in cardiovascular-disease prevention especially its effects on lipid levels; however, some contradictory results are also reported. Similarly, its effects on hypertension control, and platelet are also mild with limited data availability. The possible reason for these inconsistent results is the difference in preparations with diverse composition, variations in sulphur content present in different garlic preparations used, and methodological variations in subject recruitment, duration of study, dietary control and so forth.
Conclusion: . Garlic can be used as an adjuvant with lipid-lowering drugs for control of lipids, however, its role as a main therapeutic agent cannot be recommended and it is suggested that more metaanalyses using standardized preparations with a close watch on methodological shortfalls should be conducted to prove its role.
Publication (Name of Journal)
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Recommended Citation
Qidwai, W.,
Ashfaq, T.
(2013). Role of garlic usage in cardiovascular disease prevention: an evidence-based approach. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2013, 1-9.
Available at:
https://ecommons.aku.edu/pakistan_fhs_mc_fam_med/44
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Included in
Cardiology Commons, Community Health and Preventive Medicine Commons, Medical Pharmacology Commons