Garlic for hypertension: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

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#antihypertensive-agents #garlic #humans #hypertension #randomized-controlled-trials-as-topic

Garlic for hypertension: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Xiong et al., 2015 | Phytomedicine | Meta Analysis

Citation

Xiong X J, Wang P Q, ... Wang J. Garlic for hypertension: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Phytomedicine. 2015-Mar-15;22(3):352-61. doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2014.12.013

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In the past decade, garlic has become one of the most popular complementary therapies for blood pressure (BP) control used by hypertensive patients. Numerous clinical studies have focused on the BP-lowering effect of garlic, but results have been inconsistent. Overall, there is a dearth of information available to guide the clinical community on the efficacy of garlic in hypertensive patients. AIM: To systematically review the medical literature to investigate the current evidence of garlic for the treatment of hypertension. METHODS: PubMed, the Cochrane Library and EMBASE were searched for appropriate articles from their respective inceptions until August 2014. Randomized, placebo-controlled trials comparing garlic vs. a placebo in patients with hypertension were considered. Papers were independently reviewed by two reviewers and were analyzed using Cochrane software Revman 5.2. RESULTS: A total of seven randomized, placebo-controlled trials were identified. Compared with the placebo, this meta-analysis revealed a significant lowering effect of garlic on both systolic BP (WMD: -6.71 mmHg; 95% CI: -12.44 to -0.99; P = 0.02) and diastolic BP (WMD: -4.79 mmHg; 95% CI: -6.60 to -2.99; P < 0.00001). No serious adverse events were reported in any of the trials. CONCLUSION: The present review suggests that garlic is an effective and safe approach for hypertension. However, more rigorously designed randomized controlled trials focusing on primary endpoints with long-term follow-up are still warranted before garlic can be recommended to treat hypertensive patients.

Key Findings

A total of seven randomized, placebo-controlled trials were identified. Compared with the placebo, this meta-analysis revealed a significant lowering effect of garlic on both systolic BP (WMD: -6.71 mmHg; 95% CI: -12.44 to -0.99; P = 0.02) and diastolic BP (WMD: -4.79 mmHg; 95% CI: -6.60 to -2.99; P < 0.00001). No serious adverse events were reported in any of the trials.

Outcomes Measured

  • blood pressure
  • systolic blood pressure
  • diastolic blood pressure

Population

Field Value
Population hypertension were considered
Sample Size See abstract
Age Range See abstract
Condition hypertension

MeSH Terms

  • Antihypertensive Agents
  • Garlic
  • Humans
  • Hypertension
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Meta Analysis
  • Publication Types: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Systematic Review
  • Vertical: garlic-cardiovascular

Provenance

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09