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(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Garlic has long been thought to lower LDL, or "bad" cholesterol, and improve heart health, but a new study suggests otherwise.
Researchers from Stanford University School of Medicine in Palo Alto, Calif., studied adults with moderately high LDL levels. Researchers separated the 192 participants into four groups, each assigned to take either raw garlic, garlic supplements, aged garlic supplements, or placebo. Participants took their assigned dose of garlic six days a week for six months. Researchers monitored the participants were monitored closely to make sure they didn't fluctuate in weight, which could affect the cholesterol readings.
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After taking cholesterol measurements every month, the researchers concluded the three forms of garlic did not prove to have any significant effect on LDL cholesterol levels, which remained stable in the participants throughout the study.
Previous research suggested a chemical found in garlic, called allicin, would lower cholesterol levels as it does in animals and test tubes.
This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, which offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, click on: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.
SOURCE: Archives of Internal Medicine, 2007;167:325-353
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