Garlic plus lemon may improve cholesterol level, lower blood pressure: Study

Combining garlic and lemon juice may help slash total and LDL cholesterol levels in people with elevated blood lipids, as well as improve their blood pressure, says a new study.

Data published in the PubMed-listed International Journal of Preventive Medicine indicated that 20 grams per day of garlic and one tablespoon of lemon juice produced significantly greater reductions in total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and fibrinogen compared to garlic alone, lemon juice alone, or control.

The combination was also associated with significant reductions in blood pressure, but only compared to the lemon juice only and control groups, which supports the cardiovascular benefits of garlic. Indeed, a recent meta-analysis of 7 randomized controlled trials concluded that garlic supplements could reduce systolic and diastolic blood pressure by an average of 6.71 mmHg and 4.79 mmHg, respectively (Phytomedicine, Vol 22, pp. 352–361).

Study details

Scientists from the Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in Iran recruited 112 people with elevated blood lipid levels (hyperlipidemic) to participate in their parallel-designed randomized controlled clinical trial. Participants were randomly assigned to one of four groups: The first group received the combination intervention; the second group received 20 grams per day of fresh garlic; the third group received 1 tablespoon lemon juice per day; and the final group did not receive any intervention.

After eight weeks of intervention, the results showed that the combined garlic and lemon group experienced significant reductions in total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and fibrinogen, compared with the other groups.

In addition, greater reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure was observed for the combination and garlic only groups, compared with the other two groups.

The Iranian researchers also detected a greater reduction in BMI in the mixed group compared with the lemon juice and control groups.

“A combination of garlic and lemon juice resulted in an improvement in lipid levels and blood pressure of people with hyperlipidemia,” wrote the researchers. “Further studies to determine the appropriate doses of garlic and lemon juice for these patients are warranted. In addition, the effect of a combination of garlic and lemon juice might be different based on the degree of hyperlipidemia.”

Source: International Journal of Preventive Medicine
2016; 7: 95. doi: 10.4103/2008-7802.187248
“Effect of Garlic and Lemon Juice Mixture on Lipid Profile and Some Cardiovascular Risk Factors in People 30-60 Years Old with Moderate Hyperlipidaemia: A Randomized Clinical Trial”
Authors: N. Aslani et al.