From the Guidelines
Aged garlic extract should not be relied upon as a primary prevention strategy for strokes, and instead, individuals should focus on established preventive measures. The most recent guideline for the primary prevention of stroke from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, published in 2024 1, emphasizes the importance of a healthy diet, such as the Mediterranean diet, physical activity, and addressing social determinants of health to reduce stroke risk. While aged garlic extract may have beneficial effects on cardiovascular health, the evidence is not strong enough to support its use as a direct stroke prevention strategy. Key recommendations for stroke prevention include:
- Following a Mediterranean diet supplemented with nuts and olive oil
- Engaging in regular moderate to vigorous physical activity
- Avoiding prolonged sedentary behavior
- Screening for and addressing adverse social determinants of health
- Controlling blood pressure and managing cholesterol Individuals concerned about stroke risk should consult with their healthcare provider to develop a personalized prevention plan, rather than relying on aged garlic extract or any other single supplement.
From the Research
Aged Garlic Extract and Stroke Prevention
- Aged garlic extract (AGE) has been shown to have moderate cholesterol-lowering and blood pressure-reducing effects, which can help prevent cardiovascular events such as myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke 2.
- The extract exerts selective inhibition on platelet aggregation and adhesion, platelet functions that may be important for the development of cardiovascular events such as myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke 2.
- AGE has been found to reduce blood pressure in hypertensives, with a dose-response trial showing a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure in the garlic-2-capsule group compared to placebo 3.
- A systematic review of the effects of garlic on cardiovascular diseases found that garlic can reduce blood pressure, waist circumference, body mass index, LDL-c, non-HDL-c, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and inflammatory markers, all of which are risk factors for stroke 4.
- Another study found that AGE can improve arterial stiffness, inflammation, and other cardiovascular markers in patients with elevated levels, which can help prevent stroke 5.
- The anti-atherosclerotic effect of AGE has been reviewed, highlighting its mode of action and potential benefits for prevention and therapy in the management of atherosclerosis, a major risk factor for stroke 6.
Key Findings
- AGE can help prevent stroke by reducing blood pressure, improving platelet function, and reducing inflammation and arterial stiffness.
- The extract has been found to be effective in reducing peripheral and central blood pressure in patients with uncontrolled hypertension.
- AGE has been shown to be tolerable and acceptable, with a high safety profile as a stand-alone or adjunctive antihypertensive treatment.
- Garlic, in general, has been found to have beneficial effects on cardiovascular risk factors, including reducing blood pressure, waist circumference, body mass index, LDL-c, non-HDL-c, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and inflammatory markers.