Garlic Is an Excellent Way to Lower Cholesterol and Blood Sugar

 

Effects of garlic on blood sugar and cholesterol levels in humans.

 Context

Chronic non-communicable diseases include diabetes, cancer, persistent respiratory disorders, and cardiovascular disease claim the lives of 41 million people annually. An imbalance between lipids and glucose, which are necessary for the synthesis of energy, can lead to atherosclerosis, diabetes, and fatty liver disease. Dyslipidemia, defined as higher total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides (TG), and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), is a substantial cardiovascular risk factor. Symptom relief is the aim of side effects associated with current treatments for metabolic diseases. Garlic contains compounds called allicin, which may have the power to regulate blood sugar and fat levels. More research is needed to completely understand its physics, the optimal dosage, and the long-term effects.

Concerning the Study

For the current investigation, four databases-Embase, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science-were searched up until February 2024 using keywords related to garlic, glucose, and lipid metabolism. More qualified trials were found by manual searches, and the study adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines. Two-week randomized clinical trials with a placebo control group that included participants who were at least eighteen years old and reported outcomes such hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), fasting blood glucose (FBG), TC, HDL-C, LDL-C, and TG were among the studies' inclusion criteria. Exclusions included participants who were pregnant, combination supplements, non-clinical research, non-garlic therapy, and missing data.

Data about the study, sample size, demographics, and mean and standard deviation values for cholesterol and glucose markers were extracted separately by two researchers. By analyzing bias risk variables, the Cochrane Collaboration techniques were used to evaluate the quality of the studies.

Standardizing blood glucose and lipid levels as well as converting glycated hemoglobin units were all part of the data analysis process. From baseline and endpoint data, mean outcome changes were computed, and heterogeneity was evaluated using the I2 index and chi-square tests. Using a random-effects model with a significance threshold of 0.05 was necessary due to significant heterogeneity. The influence of individual studies and the sources of heterogeneity were investigated through subgroup and sensitivity analysis. Egger's test and funnel plots were used to examine publication bias, while trim and fill analysis was used to determine stability.

Study Findings

 2,553 pertinent papers were found after an extensive search across four databases. A total of 550 redundant publications were found and eliminated. After a thorough evaluation of the titles and abstracts, 1,830 papers were found to be irrelevant and were excluded. A comprehensive qualifying assessment was conducted on the remaining 173 studies, of which 151 were excluded because of missing data, incomplete text availability, the use of cinnamon in conjunction with other medications, or the lack of a placebo in the control group. After all, the study covered 22 publications with a total of 29 trials.

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A total of 1,567 people from different nations-Canada, the US, Korea, Iran, Pakistan, India, Israel, Russia, Poland, Brazil, and Denmark-participated in the studies. The age range of the participants was 18 to 80 years old, and the garlic intervention duration varied from 3 weeks to 1 year. A range of medical disorders were present in the participants, including obesity, hypertension, polycystic ovarian syndrome, coronary artery disease, type 2 diabetes, myocardial infarction, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and hyperlipidemia. Additionally, some participants were healthy individuals. While some study participants remained taking their usual medicine, the majority did not receive any medication during the trial. Various daily quantities of garlic formulations were available, such as powder, raw garlic, oil, aged extract, and enteric-coated supplements.

The meta-analysis examined the effects of garlic on glucose metabolism indicators. Of the studies conducted on fructoglobulin, eight trials with twelve effect sizes showed that the use of garlic as an intervention resulted in a statistically significant drop in FBG levels. Likewise, three trials with seven effect sizes indicated a noteworthy impact on HbA1c levels. An analysis of 17 trials with 19 effect sizes revealed a significant reduction in TC levels, whereas 19 studies with 22 effect sizes showed a positive effect on HDL-C. Using data from 18 randomized controlled trials, garlic consumption was found to significantly lower LDL-C with 21 effect sizes. However, 16 studies with 18 effect sizes revealed no appreciable impact on TG levels.

For measures showing heterogeneity greater than 50%, subgroup analyses were performed to determine the origins of heterogeneity, such as participant type, garlic type, and study period. Egger's test and funnel plots were used to assess publication bias; all results showed no bias, with the exception of TC and LDL. Trim and fill analysis confirmed the data' robustness despite publication bias. Sensitivity analysis demonstrated that removing any one study had no appreciable effect on the overall effect sizes, confirming the stability and dependability of the findings.

In conclusion

In conclusion, garlic significantly increased the values of FBG, HbA1c, TC, LDL, and HDL but had no effect on TG. Because of the study's significant heterogeneity, which included intervention intervals ranging from three weeks to a year, a random effects model was used. Raw garlic, aged garlic extract, and garlic powder tablets were all effective forms of garlic. Blood glucose levels and lipid profiles were considerably improved by garlic, despite variations in intervention designs and possible publication bias.