Written by James C. Morton Jr., Staff Writer. In a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical research study, aged garlic extract, Vitamin B12, B6, Folic Acid, and L-arginine supplements significantly decreased atherosclerosis progression (7%) and cardiovascular disease factors (9 to 15.5%) compared to placebo group.
Atherosclerosis is one of the leading causes for the development of cardiovascular disease that can lead to heart attacks, strokes, brain and kidney damage, pulmonary embolism, and death. Plaque buildup in arterial walls can compromise the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the heart and other body organs. Plaque, is made up of fat, cholesterol, calcium, and other substance in the blood. The common sites for atherosclerosis are the legs (peripheral arterial disease), the heart (coronary artery disease), and the neck (carotid artery atherosclerosis) 1,2.
More than 15,800,000 million Americans have some form of coronary artery disease and millions more have atherosclerosis without symptoms 3. The healthcare cost for cardiovascular disease, directly and indirectly, is estimated over 300 billion a year, in addition to being the number one cause of death globally 4,5. The popular treatment approach for atherosclerosis patients is the use of prescription medication, at a cost of $1074 a month per diagnosed patient, and a medical procedure or surgery, such as a coronary artery bypass that can cost over $100,000 per surgery 6.
Fortunately, a 2009 study 7 revealed that aged garlic extract, vitamin B12, B6, folic acid, and L-arginine supplementation reduces atherosclerosis progression that can lead to cardiovascular disease, pulmonary embolism, heart and brain damage, and death. In this placebo-controlled double-blind study, researchers analyzed data for one year on patients diagnosed as intermediate to high risk for coronary artery disease (Coronary Artery Calcium, CAC > 30). These 65 patients, 51 males and 14 females, ages 51 to 69 years, were randomized to receive either the following daily dosage of supplements or a placebo for one year:
- Aged Garlic Extract (AGE) = 250 milligrams
- Vitamin B12 = 100 micrograms
- Vitamin B6 = 12.5 milligrams
- Folic Acid = 300 micrograms
- L-arginine = 100 milligrams
After one year, researchers noted the following: p-value 0.05 = significant.
| Variable Factors | AGE + Supplements Group | Placebo Group | p-value |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAC | 6.8% Increase (from 291 to 311) | 26.5% Increase (from 347 to 439 | P = 0.005 |
| Total Cholesterol mg/dl | 8.8% Decrease (from 180.9 to 165) | 0.02% Increase (from 180.6 to 182.0) | P = 0.008 |
| HDL-C mg/dl | 15.4% Increase (from 46.9 to 54.3) | 6.4% Increase (from 46.7 to 49.6) | P = 0.01 |
| LDL-C mg/dl | 13.6% Decrease (from 104 to 90.1) | 0.01% Increase (from 112 to 113) | P = 0.009 |
| Triglycerides mg/dl | 17.8% Decrease (from 109.3 to 88.9) | 10% Decrease (from 105 to 94.2) | P = 0.08 |
In addition, the mean temperature rebound (TR), that measures vascular reactivity, increased significantly in the aged-garlic extract group when compared to the placebo, 138% vs. 26.7% respectively, with a p-value of 0.001. Researchers also noted that the IgG and IgM antibodies that correlate to oxidative factors, decreased significantly in the aged-garlic group.
When suggesting how aged-garlic extract and supplements benefit those with atherosclerosis, researchers pointed to its ability to metabolically inhibit endothelial cell damage and transform smooth muscle cells by preventing LDL oxidation, decrease blood pressure, platelet aggregation, and improving vascular functions 8, Aged garlic extract increases the function of autoantibodies and immune complexes, indirectly, to oxidize LDL’s 9. It also decreases homocysteine, which is associated with plaque progression and CD36 expression. Arginine increases nitric oxide bioavailability that reduces vascular dysfunction and stiffness 10-12.
Researchers concluded that the limitations of the study consisted of having no assessment of which components of aged garlic extract were most responsible for the benefits, and that the lifestyle of the patients was not formally assessed.
Source: Budoff, Matthew J., et al. “Aged garlic extract supplemented with B vitamins, folic acid and L-arginine retards the progression of subclinical atherosclerosis: a randomized clinical trial.” Preventive medicine 49.2 (2009): 101-107.
Posted April 13, 2017.
References:
- NIH. What is Atherosclerosis? 2016; Overview of atherosclerosis. Available at: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/atherosclerosis. Accessed April 7, 2017, 2017.
- Medicine JH. What are the risk factors for atherosclerosis? 2017; Overview of risk factors for atherosclerosis. Available at: http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/healthlibrary/conditions/adult/cardiovascular_diseases/atherosclerosis_85,p00197/. Accessed April 7, 2017, 2017.
- WebMD. Atherosclerosis and Coronary Artery Disease. 2017; Overview of Coronary Artery Disease. Available at: http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/atherosclerosis-and-coronary-artery-disease#1. Accessed April 9, 2017, 2017.
- NIH. Disease Statistics. 2017; Statistics about Diseases. Available at: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/about/documents/factbook/2012/chapter4. Accessed April 9, 2017, 2017.
- WHO. Cardiovascular Diseases (CVD): Key Facts. 2017; Key facts about cardiovascular diseases. Available at: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs317/en/. Accessed April 9, 2017, 2017.
- Ohsfeldt RL, Gandhi SK, Fox KM, Bullano MF, Davidson M. Medical and cost burden of atherosclerosis among patients treated in routine clinical practice. Journal of medical economics. 2010;13(3):500-507.
- Budoff MJ, Ahmadi N, Gul KM, et al. Aged garlic extract supplemented with B vitamins, folic acid and L-arginine retards the progression of subclinical atherosclerosis: a randomized clinical trial. Preventive medicine. 2009;49(2):101-107.
- Ho S, Ide N, Lau B. S-allyl cysteine reduces oxidant load in cells involved in the atherogenic process. Phytomedicine. 2001;8(1):39-46.
- Tsimikas S, Kiechl S, Willeit J, et al. Oxidized phospholipids predict the presence and progression of carotid and femoral atherosclerosis and symptomatic cardiovascular disease: five-year prospective results from the Bruneck study. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2006;47(11):2219-2228.
- Steiner M, Khan AH, Holbert D, Lin R. A double-blind crossover study in moderately hypercholesterolemic men that compared the effect of aged garlic extract and placebo administration on blood lipids. The American journal of clinical nutrition. 1996;64(6):866-870.
- Campbell JH, Efendy JL, Smith NJ, Campbell GR. Molecular basis by which garlic suppresses atherosclerosis. The Journal of nutrition. 2001;131(3):1006S-1009S.
- Rahman K, Billington D. Dietary supplementation with aged garlic extract inhibits ADP-induced platelet aggregation in humans. The Journal of nutrition. 2000;130(11):2662-2665.
