Hypertension and hyperlipidaemia: garlic helps in mild cases

Forty-seven non-hospitalised patients with mild hypertension took part in a randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial conducted by 11 general practitioners. The patients who were admitted had diastolic blood pressures between 95 and 104 mmHg after a two-week acclimatization phase. The patients then took either a preparation of garlic powder (Kwai) or a placebo of identical appearance for 12 weeks. Blood pressure and plasma lipids were monitored during treatment after four, eight and 12 weeks. Significant differences between the placebo and the drug group were found during the course of therapy. For example, the supine diastolic blood pressure in the group having garlic treatment fell from 102 to 91 mmHg after eight weeks (p less than 0.05) and to 89 mmHg after 12 weeks (p less than 0.01). The serum cholesterol and triglycerides were also significantly reduced after eight and 12 weeks of treatment. In the placebo group, on the other hand, no significant changes occurred.