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Aged Garlic Extract for a Healthy Cardiovascular System
When most people think of cardiovascular health, they think of cholesterol and/or blood pressure. However, there are many more factors involved in a healthy cardiovascular system. Aged Garlic Extract supports a healthy heart through several mechanisms.
- CHOLESTEROL REDUCTION
Several studies have shown that Aged Garlic Extract has an ability to reduce cholesterol.1-4 Dr. Steiner and his team from Brown University conducted a double-blind, placebo controlled, six-month study to compare the effects of Aged Garlic Extract and a placebo on serum cholesterol. His subjects (both garlic and placebo) were encouraged to follow the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Step I diet which is low in cholesterol and saturated fat. He found that Aged Garlic Extract reduced total serum cholesterol 6.1% compared to the placebo and 7% compared to baseline or initial values. In a five-month, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled intervention study of free-living hypercholesterolemic men by Dr. Yeh and his team from Penn. State University2, Aged Garlic Extract was found to reduce total plasma and LDL-cholesterol by 7% and 10%, respectively. An earlier study,3 conducted by Dr. Lau and his team from Loma Linda University, noted a 10-31% drop in cholesterol in subjects taking liquid Kyolic for six months. Dr. Kawashima an his team4 noted that after 16 weeks administration of the liquid Kyolic fortified with B vitamins and liver extract, average cholesterol was reduced 9% (234 - 213 mg/dl). In patients with very high cholesterol, an 11% reduction was noted (267.2 - 239.2 mg/dl).
- REDUCTION IN OXIDIZED LDL
That high levels of LDL pose a risk for heart disease is well known. However, perhaps lesser known is that when LDL gets oxidized, it is more likely to cause damage to the cardiovascular system. Oxidized LDL cholesterol damages blood vessels by directly damaging cells lining the vessels and by transforming immune cells into foam cells that are more likely to adhere to and cause damage to the lining of vessels. (The difference between LDL and oxidized LDL is sort of like the difference between a marble and a burr going though the veins.) Aged Garlic Extract and its constituents were found to not only prevent the oxidation of LDL, but also to prevent oxidized LDL from damaging membranes, oxidizing lipids (fats) and damaging or killing cells.5, 6, 7
- TRIGLYCERIDE REDUCTION
Another lipid or fat of concern in the blood is triglycerides. High triglycerides can contribute to heart disease. After six months intake of liquid Kyolic, Dr. Lau and his team found a significant reduction in triglycerides of greater than 10% in 10 of 15 subjects. After 16 weeks intake of liquid Kyolic fortified with B vitamins and liver extract, Kawashima's team noted a significant reduction in triglycerides of 17% (229±20 mg/dl - 190±16 mg/dl).4
- BLOOD PRESSURE REDUCTION
Steiner's team1 also found a 6% reduction in blood pressure following six months intake of Aged Garlic Extract. In a former double-blind, crossover study by Steiner et al.,8 compared to baseline values, significant reductions in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure (9% decrease, respectively) were noted Hyperlipidemic patients consuming the NCEP Step I diet supplemented with placebo for six months and followed by Aged Garlic Extract powder for four months showed the most significant results. Another study utilizing the liquid Aged Garlic Extract fortified with B vitamins and liver extract9 showed a trend toward stabilized blood pressure (i.e. increases for low blood pressure, decreases for high blood pressure).
- BLOOD THINNING AND PROCIRCULATORY EFFECTS
Steiner and his team from Brown University also found that Aged Garlic Extract could modify platelet function in patients with high cholesterol levels.8 Aged Garlic Extract inhibited platelet adhesion to fibrinogen in humans which is strongly related to the development of atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular diseases. Aged Garlic Extract has also been found to significantly help in increasing circulation and in improving various symptoms (including chill, paralysis, pain, stiffness, headache, dizziness, anemia, insomnia and fatigue) associated with poor circulation.10, 11 The effects of Aged Garlic Extract were found to be more pronounced than those of a heated garlic liquid.10, 11
- ANTI-SCLEROTIC OR SCARRING EFFECTS
Drs. Gordon and Julie Campbell and their team of researchers at the University of Queensland investigated whether Kyolic could directly inhibit the development of atherosclerosis (heart disease). After being fed a high cholesterol diet in combination with Kyolic for eight weeks, their models developed 45% fewer fatty streak lesions (diseased scarring along blood vessels) following angioplasty (a treatment used to increase blood flow in veins that have been closed off by scar tissue) than those fed a high cholesterol diet alone. Kyolic significantly reduced thickening/scarring of the arteries. Further, Kyolic inhibited smooth muscle cell proliferation (the growth of smooth muscle cells over the accumulated scar tissue that decreases blood flow through the vessels), providing protection against the onset of atherosclerosis.12
Article taken from http://www.kyolic.com
References
- Steiner, M., Kham, A.H., Holbert, D., Lin, R.I.S. 1996. A double-blind crossover study in moderately hypercholesteremic men that compared the effect of aged garlic extract and placebo administration on blood lipids. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 64: 866-870.
- Yeh, Y. Y., Lin, R.I.S and Yeh, S. and Evans, S. 1997. Garlic reduces cholesterol in hypocholesterolemic men maintaining habitual diets. In Food Factors for Cancer Prevention. H. Ohigashi, T. Osawa, J. Terao, S. Watanabe, T. Yoshikawa Eds., p 226-230. Springer-Verlag, Tokyo.
- Lau B.H.S. et al. 1987. Effect of an Odor-Modified Garlic Preparation on Blood Lipids. Nutrition Research, 7:139-149, 1987.
- Kawashima Y. et al. 1989. Clinical Study of Kyoleopin for Hyperlipemic Patients. Treatment and New Drug (Shinryou to Shinyaku), 26:377-388
- Ide, N., Nelson, A.B. and Lau, B.H.S. 1997. Aged Garlic Extract and its constituents inhibit Cu+2-induced oxidative modification of low density lipoprotein. Planta Med. 63: 263-264.
- Ide, N. and Lau, B.H.S. 1997. Garlic compounds protect vascular endothelial cells from oxidized low density lipoprotein-induced injury. J. Pharm. Pharmacol. 49: 908-911.
- Ide, N. and Lau, B.H.S. 1997. Garlic compounds inhibit low density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation and protect endothelial cells from oxidized LDL-induced injury. FASAB J. 11(3): A122/#713.
- Steiner, M. et al. 1996. A double blind crossover study in moderately hypercholesterolemic men comparing the effect of Aged Garlic Extract and placebo administration on blood lipids and platelet function. Shinyaku To Rinsho (New Drug Clin.) 45(3): 456-466.
- Okada K. et al., 1983. Effect of KYOLEOPIN (KLE) on Fatigue and Non-specific Complaints: Clinical Study. Kiso to Rinsho (Preclinical and Clinical Reports), 17: 2173-2183.
- Kikuchi, N. et al. 1994. Clinical effects of Leopin-five (LE-5) and garlic extract (GE) on peripheral microcirculation. Shinyaku To Rinsho (Jpn. J. New Remedies Clin.) 43(1): 146-158.
- Okuhara, T. 1994. Clinical study of garlic extract on peripheral circulation. Jpn. Pharmacol. Therapeut. 22(8): 3695-3701.
- Efendy, J.L., Simmons, D.L., Campbell, G.R. and Campbell, J.H. 1997. The effect of the aged garlic extract, 'Kyolic' on the development of experimental atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis 132: 37-42.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
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