Garlic and Reduced Blood Cholesterol

Research synthesisHigh evidenceModerate effect5 studies · 5 beneficial · 0 neutral · 0 harmful

Across 5 meta-analyses, all 5 reported beneficial effects of garlic supplementation on reducing total cholesterol, with effect sizes ranging from small to large but predominantly moderate. The evidence is drawn from clinical populations including metabolic syndrome, dyslipidemia, and type 2 diabetes. No specific dose or supplement form was consistently reported across studies.

Studied populations: people with metabolic syndrome, dyslipidemia, or type 2 diabetes mellitus

Caveats: Available evidence is overwhelmingly positive — clinical literature in this area is subject to publication bias (null-result studies are less likely to be published or indexed). Additionally, no consistent dose or supplement form was reported across studies, and effect sizes varied, with the most recent large meta-analysis (n=999) showing a moderate effect.

Generated Jul 9, 2026

5 of 5 papersPopulation:

Effects of garlic supplementation on components of metabolic syndrome: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression of randomized controlled trials.
- 2023-07-22
- Meta-Analysis · n = 999
- BMC complementary medicine and therapies 23(1)
- - Zhenyue Fu
  - Jiayu Lv
  - Xiya Gao
  - Haoran Zheng
  - Shuqing Shi
  - Xia Xu
  - Bingxuan Zhang
  - Huaqin Wu
  - Qingqiao Song
- PubMed: 37481521
- DOI: 10.1186/s12906-023-04038-0
6 Insights on
- Reduced Blood Cholesterol
- High evidence
- Clinical
Compared to placebo, garlic significantly reduced TC [SMD (95%CI) = -0.43 (-0.86, -0.01)]
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Significant
Yes
Effects of Garlic on Glucose Parameters and Lipid Profile: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on Randomized Controlled Trials.
- 2024-05-29
- Meta-Analysis
- Nutrients 16(11)
- - Xinyu Zhao
  - Tao Cheng
  - Hui Xia
  - Yanhong Yang
  - Shaokang Wang
- PubMed: 38892625
- DOI: 10.3390/nu16111692
6 Insights on
- Reduced Blood Cholesterol
- High evidence
- Rigorous Journal
TC (mean difference = -14.17; 95% CI: -19.31, -9.03, p < 0.001)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Significant
Yes
Garlic consumption can reduce the risk of dyslipidemia: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
- 2024-08-07
- Meta-Analysis · n = 21
- Journal of health, population, and nutrition 43(1)
- - Yanbin Du
  - Hua Zhou
  - Wenting Zha
- PubMed: 39113105
- DOI: 10.1186/s41043-024-00608-1
4 Insights on
- Reduced Blood Cholesterol
- High evidence
- Clinical
garlic consumption significantly reduced total cholesterol (TC)(WMD = -0.64mmol/L, 95%CI = -0.75 --0.54, P < 0.001)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Significant
Yes
Anti-hyperlipidemia of garlic by reducing the level of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein: A meta-analysis.
- 2018-05
- Meta-Analysis · n = 14
- Medicine 97(18)
- - Yue-E Sun
  - Weidong Wang
  - Jie Qin
- PubMed: 29718835
- DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000010255
3 Insights on
- Reduced Blood Cholesterol
- High evidence
The values of TC (SMD = -1.26, 95% CI, -1.86 to -0.66) ... after taking garlic in the experimental group and the control group have statistical significance
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Large
Significant
Yes
The Therapeutic Effect of Garlic Supplements on the Metabolic Profile of Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials.
- 2026-02-12
- Review
- Nutrition and metabolic insights 19
- - Anahita Ebrahimzadeh
  - Mohammad Safargar
  - Milad Rajabzadeh-Dehkordi
  - Faezeh Nematolahi
  - Mahsa Samadani
  - Laya Saeid
  - Abbas Mohtashamian
  - Mohammad Ali Izadi
  - Armin Ebrahimzadeh
  - Ali Reza Safarpour
- PubMed: 41695233
- DOI: 10.1177/11786388251413660
6 Insights on
- Reduced Blood Cholesterol
- Low evidence
- Clinical
total cholesterol (TC) was significantly reduced (WMD: -8.26; 95% CI: -14.65 to -1.88)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Significant
Yes

Garlic and Reduced Blood Cholesterol

Effects of garlic supplementation on components of metabolic syndrome: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression of randomized controlled trials.

Effects of Garlic on Glucose Parameters and Lipid Profile: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on Randomized Controlled Trials.

Garlic consumption can reduce the risk of dyslipidemia: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Anti-hyperlipidemia of garlic by reducing the level of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein: A meta-analysis.

The Therapeutic Effect of Garlic Supplements on the Metabolic Profile of Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials.