Role of garlic in the prevention of cardiovascular disease

03/05/05 A panel of international medical and scientific experts on garlic has concluded that there is ample evidence to warrant an official health claim recognizing the numerous benefits of garlic in the prevention of cardiovascular disease. The panel urged that a proposal for such a health claim should be submitted to the United States Food and Drug Administration for its review and consideration.

This group of specialists recently met at a Cardiovascular Garlic Symposium to discuss the broad scientific evidence that garlic powder LI 111 cannot only prevent the most relevant causes of heart disease, but may even reverse them. This proprietary standardized garlic extract was scrutinized extensively by international research, resulting in 42 clinical trials focused on the prevention and reversal of cardiovascular disease.

Compared with other FDA health claims for substances (such as soy, omega- 3-fatty acids or oat bran), garlic and, specifically, garlic powder LI 111 has a superior scientifically documented record for improving cardiovascular risk factors such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, impaired platelet aggregation, circulation and atherosclerotic plaque reduction, all of which contribute to the prevention of heart disease.

The American Heart Association recently recognized important research conducted by Gunter Siegel, M.D., Director of the Department of Neurophysiology at the Charite - Universitatsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, by inviting him to present his findings at the 6th Annual Conference on Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology on April 29 in Washington D.C.

Dr. Siegel has studied the cardiovascular effect of garlic powder (LI 111, marketed as Kwai in Europe and the United States) and concluded that garlic powder is the best natural way to prevent heart disease.

His latest study demonstrated a striking new effect of garlic powder LI 111: It can inhibit plasma lipoprotein, the relevant factor within the dangerous LDL ("bad") cholesterol that triggers the formation of atherosclerotic plaques (specifically nano-plaques). These tiny plaques bind together and adhere to the wall of the artery, causing high blood pressure, blockages and leading to heart attacks and stroke.

"For the first time, we show that Kwai garlic powder not only blocks the formation of new arterial plaque, but also reduces the size of existing plaque. By using the LI 111 treatment, we could dissolve over 25% of nano- plaques within a mere 25 minutes," claims Dr. Siegel.

"These results give hope to millions of men and women with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease either due to family history or to personally increased risk factors such as obesity, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking or little physical activity," he added.

Kwai garlic products are manufactured in Germany by Lichtwer Pharma of Berlin and are imported into the United States and marketed by ABKIT, Inc. of New York.