Effect of garlic on blood pressure: A systematic review and meta-analysis
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Non-pharmacological treatment options for hypertension have the potential to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease at a population level. Animal studies have suggested that garlic reduces blood pressure, but primary studies in hu...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2008-06-01
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| Series: | BMC Cardiovascular Disorders |
| Online Access: | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2261/8/13 |
| _version_ | 1818346476479184896 |
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| author | Fakler Peter Stocks Nigel P Frank Oliver R Ried Karin Sullivan Thomas |
| author_facet | Fakler Peter Stocks Nigel P Frank Oliver R Ried Karin Sullivan Thomas |
| author_sort | Fakler Peter |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Non-pharmacological treatment options for hypertension have the potential to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease at a population level. Animal studies have suggested that garlic reduces blood pressure, but primary studies in humans and non-systematic reviews have reported mixed results. With interest in complementary medicine for hypertension increasing, it is timely to update a systematic review and meta-analysis from 1994 of studies investigating the effect of garlic preparations on blood pressure.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We searched the Medline and Embase databases for studies published between 1955 and October 2007. Randomised controlled trials with true placebo groups, using garlic-only preparations, and reporting mean systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure (SBP/DBP) and standard deviations were included in the meta-analysis. We also conducted subgroup meta-analysis by baseline blood pressure (hypertensive/normotensive), for the first time. Meta-regression analysis was performed to test the associations between blood pressure outcomes and duration of treatment, dosage, and blood pressure at start of treatment.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Eleven of 25 studies included in the systematic review were suitable for meta-analysis. Meta-analysis of all studies showed a mean decrease of 4.6 ± 2.8 mm Hg for SBP in the garlic group compared to placebo (n = 10; p = 0.001), while the mean decrease in the hypertensive subgroup was 8.4 ± 2.8 mm Hg for SBP (n = 4; p < 0.001), and 7.3 ± 1.5 mm Hg for DBP (n = 3; p < 0.001). Regression analysis revealed a significant association between blood pressure at the start of the intervention and the level of blood pressure reduction (SBP: R = 0.057; p = 0.03; DBP: R = -0.315; p = 0.02).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our meta-analysis suggests that garlic preparations are superior to placebo in reducing blood pressure in individuals with hypertension.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T17:18:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2635988735044b5fa191f52d82ea28e7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2261 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T17:18:52Z |
| publishDate | 2008-06-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Cardiovascular Disorders |
| spelling | doaj.art-2635988735044b5fa191f52d82ea28e72022-12-21T23:37:21ZengBMCBMC Cardiovascular Disorders1471-22612008-06-01811310.1186/1471-2261-8-13Effect of garlic on blood pressure: A systematic review and meta-analysisFakler PeterStocks Nigel PFrank Oliver RRied KarinSullivan Thomas<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Non-pharmacological treatment options for hypertension have the potential to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease at a population level. Animal studies have suggested that garlic reduces blood pressure, but primary studies in humans and non-systematic reviews have reported mixed results. With interest in complementary medicine for hypertension increasing, it is timely to update a systematic review and meta-analysis from 1994 of studies investigating the effect of garlic preparations on blood pressure.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We searched the Medline and Embase databases for studies published between 1955 and October 2007. Randomised controlled trials with true placebo groups, using garlic-only preparations, and reporting mean systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure (SBP/DBP) and standard deviations were included in the meta-analysis. We also conducted subgroup meta-analysis by baseline blood pressure (hypertensive/normotensive), for the first time. Meta-regression analysis was performed to test the associations between blood pressure outcomes and duration of treatment, dosage, and blood pressure at start of treatment.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Eleven of 25 studies included in the systematic review were suitable for meta-analysis. Meta-analysis of all studies showed a mean decrease of 4.6 ± 2.8 mm Hg for SBP in the garlic group compared to placebo (n = 10; p = 0.001), while the mean decrease in the hypertensive subgroup was 8.4 ± 2.8 mm Hg for SBP (n = 4; p < 0.001), and 7.3 ± 1.5 mm Hg for DBP (n = 3; p < 0.001). Regression analysis revealed a significant association between blood pressure at the start of the intervention and the level of blood pressure reduction (SBP: R = 0.057; p = 0.03; DBP: R = -0.315; p = 0.02).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our meta-analysis suggests that garlic preparations are superior to placebo in reducing blood pressure in individuals with hypertension.</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2261/8/13 |
| spellingShingle | Fakler Peter Stocks Nigel P Frank Oliver R Ried Karin Sullivan Thomas Effect of garlic on blood pressure: A systematic review and meta-analysis BMC Cardiovascular Disorders |
| title | Effect of garlic on blood pressure: A systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_full | Effect of garlic on blood pressure: A systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_fullStr | Effect of garlic on blood pressure: A systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effect of garlic on blood pressure: A systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_short | Effect of garlic on blood pressure: A systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_sort | effect of garlic on blood pressure a systematic review and meta analysis |
| url | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2261/8/13 |
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