Evidence Level
Strong
Garlic is among the most extensively studied cardiovascular supplements. Ried et al. (2016) published the definitive meta-analysis on garlic and blood pressure, confirming clinically meaningful reductions in hypertensive patients. Matsumoto et al. (2016) provided compelling evidence that aged garlic extract slows coronary artery calcification progression. Sobenin et al. (2008) demonstrated cholesterol-lowering effects in a time-release garlic powder preparation. The key distinction is between aged garlic extract (standardized to S-allylcysteine) and allicin-based products — AGE has the most consistent clinical evidence and better tolerability.