By Keryn Curtis
A new Australian study has found that people who have poorly controlled hypertension (high blood pressure) can benefit from adding a controlled dose of aged garlic extract to their regular anti-hypertension medication.
A study led by Dr Karin Ried from the University of Adelaide, now Research Director at the National Institute of Integrative Medicine in Melbourne, found that a group of patients taking two capsules of an aged garlic extract (a total dose of 480mg containing 1.2 mg of S-allylcysteine) with their usual antihypertensive medication, showed a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure (the top number in a blood pressure measurement) compared to placebo.
The study involved a total of 79 general practice patients with uncontrolled high blood pressure who participated in a double-blind randomised placebo-controlled trial for 12 weeks.
Patients were randomly allocated to groups to receive one of three different sized doses of the aged garlic extract – either one capsule, two capsules or four capsules- or a placebo dose, taken in addition to their existing blood pressure medication.
While the study found a significant reduction in systolic blood compared to placebo, in the group receiving the two-capsule dose of aged garlic extract, the four- capsule dose group had only a borderline reduction and the one-capsule group had no significant difference to the placebo group.
Researchers also found high levels of tolerance, compliance and acceptance of the aged garlic extract as an addition to the medication regime among all three groups but this was highest in the groups taking one or two capsules daily.
Dr Ried said the results provided robust evidence supporting the use of aged garlic extract as a safe and effective adjunct treatment for hypertension, with few known side effects.
“More than three million Australian adults suffer from high blood pressure, or hypertension, which places increased strain on their heart, and increases their risk of heart attack or heart failure.
“While our study focused on using aged garlic extract as an adjunct treatment to conventional medications, there is evidence to suggest that people who are newly diagnosed with hypertension could try it as an initial treatment under medical supervision, and see what results they get.
“The most important thing to note, however, is that this study used a high potency formula of Aged garlic extract. Aged garlic extract has fewer side effects than fresh garlic and allows better standardisation of dosage than other types of garlic supplements, such as garlic oil and garlic powder. Aged garlic extract is available from pharmacists and health food stores,” Dr Ried said.
General Practitioner and co-investigator, Dr Oliver Frank said he was pleasantly surprised by the results his patients had achieved while participating in the study.
“Hypertension can be tricky to treat, and we end up prescribing as many as four medications in some instances in an effort to get a patient’s condition under control while managing any adverse effects.
“The ultimate goal for patients is to achieve blood pressure as close as possible to normal with the fewest medicines, and the fewest adverse effects,” he said.
The study was funded by a Royal Adelaide Hospital New Investigator Clinical Project Grant. Dr Ried was supported by the Australian Government funded Primary Health Care Research Evaluation and Development (PHCRED) Program. Trial capsules of Wagner Kyolic Aged Garlic were provided by Vitaco Health Australia Pty Ltd, Sydney, Australia, which was not involved in study design, data collection, analysis or preparation.
The results were published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition
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Thanks