Kyolic aged garlic extract reduces blood pressure in hypertensive patients, according to a new Australian study published in Italics Frontiers of Nutrition.
Associate Professor Karin Ried, Research Director at Melbourne’s National Institute of Integrative Medicine, says the results are similar to those achieved with first-line standard antihypertensive medications.
The reduction in blood pressure was seen in the uncontrolled hypertensive patients, in the patient groups on standard hypertensive medications, and those on no medication.
“The mean blood pressure in patients taking two capsules a day was reduced by 10mmHg systolic and 5.4mmHg diastolic, which is the same as standard hypertensive medications”, Professor Ried said.
Researchers observed that the patient group taking Kyolic Aged Garlic Extract also experienced positive changes in pulse wave velocity, arterial stiffness, inflammatory markers and gut microbiota with an increase in the good bacteria lactobacillus and clostridia.
“While it wasn’t part of the study, we also found the gut health of patients was maintained after the study, indicating intake of Kyolic Aged Garlic, a prebiotic, has a sustained impact on gut health.
“More than 60 per cent of patients on standard anti-hypertensives report adverse side effects, and doctors often find it difficult to balance their medications, but Kyolic Aged Garlic Extract can be used in combination with standard medications, only producing minor side effects such as feeling bloated during the first week.”
Professor Reid says increasing the amount of garlic in your diet does not lower blood pressure, because when garlic is cooked, it loses the active component, allicin.
The study can be found here.
