The age old tradition and advice followed in India of consuming a pod of garlic to combat heart disease and cholesterol has a scientific backing now!
Aged garlic extract known as Kyolic may decrease the risk of heart attacks by reducing platelet aggregation in the blood, according to UK scientists.
Dr. Khalid Rhaman and colleagues from John Moores University previously found that a daily supplementation of Kyolic brand aged garlic extract inhibits platelet aggregation in healthy people.Platelet aggregation causes blood clots. Clot formation inside healthy blood vessels is abnormal and may lead to heart attacks.
They also found that the garlic extract reduces oxidative stress in smokers, who are at higher risk of heart disease.
The researchers are planning a study, which starts in Feb. 2006, on how the aged garlic extract Kyolic affects heart attacks.
Dr. Rahman's team is now working to test the mechanism in vitro. They found that many compounds in the aged garlic extract synergistically affect platelet aggregation.
Kyolic is standardized to S-allyl cysteine, but without any allicin, which is believed not to be bioavailable in the body.
Source: John Moores University
