Is Garlic Safe?

Introduction

Garlic (Allium sativum) has been widely used for its culinary and medicinal properties. It is known for its potential health benefits, including cardiovascular protection, anticancer properties, and antioxidant effects. However, questions about its safety, especially concerning its interactions with medications and potential adverse effects, remain.

Key Insights

Cardiovascular Benefits and Safety:
- Garlic supplementation can reduce blood pressure and total cholesterol levels, particularly with aged garlic extract (AGE) .
- AGE has shown no significant adverse effects in patients on warfarin therapy, suggesting it is relatively safe for those on anticoagulants.
Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Properties:
- Garlic and its metabolites exhibit antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which contribute to its health-promoting effects .
- In dogs, long-term administration of AGE did not show adverse effects and upregulated antioxidant enzyme genes, indicating safety at appropriate dosages.
Cancer Prevention:
- Garlic consumption is associated with reduced incidences of certain cancers, such as stomach and colon cancer, through mechanisms like radical scavenging and enzyme activity enhancement .
Drug Interactions and Metabolism:
- Garlic can inhibit cytochrome P450 enzymes, potentially affecting the metabolism of various drugs, including those for HIV/AIDS .
- It may enhance the effects of anticoagulants and reduce the efficacy of some anti-AIDS drugs, necessitating caution in these contexts.
Adverse Effects:
- Common adverse effects include garlic breath and body odor. Rarely, it can cause allergic reactions, platelet function alterations, and skin burns when applied topically.
- High doses of garlic can induce morphological changes in the liver and kidneys, highlighting the importance of identifying safe dosage ranges.

Conclusion

Garlic, particularly in the form of aged garlic extract, offers several health benefits, including cardiovascular protection, antioxidant effects, and cancer prevention. It is generally safe for consumption, even in patients on anticoagulant therapy, provided it is used in appropriate dosages. However, potential drug interactions and rare adverse effects necessitate careful consideration, especially for individuals on specific medications or with certain health conditions.

Summary

Consensus Meter

Introduction

Key Insights

Conclusion

Sources and full results

Garlic and Heart Disease.

Aged garlic extract may be safe for patients on warfarin therapy.

Potential Health Benefit of Garlic Based on Human Intervention Studies: A Brief Overview

Safety and efficacy of aged garlic extract in dogs: upregulation of the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway and Nrf2-regulated phase II antioxidant enzymes

An in vitro evaluation of human cytochrome P450 3A4 and P-glycoprotein inhibition by garlic.

Garlic in health and disease

Multiplicity of garlic health effects and Alzheimer's disease.

Garlic-induced alteration in rat liver and kidney morphology and associated changes in endogenous antioxidant status.

Anticarcinogenic Properties of Garlic: A Review

Garlic (Allium sativum L.): adverse effects and drug interactions in humans.

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