Garlic Supplements Review
Find the Best Garlic
Supplements. CL Tests Reveal Big Differences in Garlic Strength -- Some Have
Little to No Garlic!.
Medically reviewed and
edited by Tod Cooperman, M.D. 
Last Updated
: 02/02/2021 | Initially Posted:
06/26/2020
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Table of Contents
Summary
·
What does garlic do? Garlic can modestly reduce cholesterol
levels (by reducing triglycerides) and blood pressure. It may also slightly
reduce the risk of atherosclerosis, and may help prevent colds, but garlic does
not help treat an existing cold. Preliminary evidence suggests garlic may have
some protective role with regard to gastric cancer in limited situations
(See What It Is).
·
What are the best forms of garlic? Clinical studies
have typically used garlic extract (providing allicin or potentially providing
it from an allicin precursor, alliin) or aged garlic (providing an
allicin-derivative known as S-allylcysteine or SAC).
Some studies have used fresh garlic or dried garlic as garlic powder.
·
What did ConsumerLab find in garlic
supplements? One widely sold garlic supplement appeared to contain
little or no garlic, based on finding no detectable amounts of alliin, allicin,
or SAC. In contrast, all others had significant amounts, ranging from roughly
5,000 to 40,000 mcg of total allicin and from 27 to 12,900 mcg of SAC per daily
serving. Interestingly, some of the products that were not labeled as aged
garlic had higher amounts of SAC than the aged garlic supplements. None of the
supplements exceeded acceptable limits of contamination with lead, cadmium, or
arsenic, and products claiming to be enteric-coated were found to live up to
this claim.
·
Which are the best garlic supplements? ConsumerLab
selected three garlic supplements as Top Picks based
on their total allicin and/or SAC levels, overall quality, and value.
·
Does garlic have side effects? Other than bad breath (which is not a
problem with aged garlic and some odor-controlled garlic), the most common side
effect of garlic supplements is gastrointestinal upset. These and other side
effects, as well as potential drug interactions, are discussed in the Concerns and
Cautions section.
What It Is:
Garlic
(Allium sativum) may be used medicinally as fresh garlic, dried or
concentrated garlic powder, a liquid extract of garlic, or as aged garlic
powder. Garlic consists of a main bulb (head) that can be separated into
smaller secondary bulbs — the cloves.
It has been suggested that non-aged garlic is more effective when taken in a
form that has higher allicin release (also referred to as "allicin
yield" or "allicin potential"). Allicin is naturally found in
fresh garlic in small amounts, but enzymes in the garlic produce larger amounts
once the garlic is cut or crushed and exposed to water, such as in the gut.
Allicin, in turn, triggers the production of other potentially active
constituents such as S-allyl-L-cysteine (SAC) and ajoene. Most of the positive
clinical trials with non-aged garlic have been performed with garlic yielding
at least 3,600 to 5,400 micrograms (mcg) of allicin per day — roughly the
amount expected from one small (4 gram) clove of fresh garlic; however, there
have been many negative trials with such products as well.
Aged garlic does not produce allicin, but contains allicin-related compounds,
such as SAC, to which it is often standardized. Because allicin-free aged
garlic products have as good a research track record as allicin-containing
products, allicin itself may not be the active component but a precursor to
other active compounds. Distillation processes used to create garlic oil
convert allicin into allyl sulfides which may also have biological activity.
There are more than 200 chemicals in garlic and some may interfere with other
medications (see Concerns and Cautions.)
What It Does:
Overall, garlic seems to reduce serum total cholesterol by
about 4-5%. It appears to have this affect by lowering the triglyceride component
of cholesterol by 6-22% (particularly reducing the VLDL component of
lipoproteins, with no effect on LDL (bad) or HDL (good) cholesterol levels.
These findings are based on two meta-analyses of human trials in which a
variety of types of garlic products and varied doses were studied (Reinhart, Nutr Res Rev 2009, Zeng, J Sci Food Agric 2012). Some clinical
research suggests that Kwaibrand garlic
powder may reduce serum triglycerides to a greater degree than other garlic
products (Reinhart, Nutr Res Rev 2009).
(See What to Consider When Buying).
Garlic may slow the development of atherosclerosis, but garlic
alone is probably not sufficient to treat people with significantly elevated
cholesterol levels. A one-year study in Sweden among 93 men and women (average
age 64) with mild to moderate atherosclerosis found that coronary
artery calcification (a measure of calcified or "hardened"
plaque in the arteries) increased by 20% among those given aged garlic but by
28% among those given placebo, indicating a modest benefit with aged garlic.
The garlic was taken as two 600 mg capsules twice daily (Kyolic
Reserve formula, Wakunaga of America Co Ltd --
which funded the study) (Wlosinka, BMC
Complement Med Ther 2020).
The Kyolic Aged Garlic Extract Extra
Strength Reserve,, tested in this review, is similar to the formula used in
the study, providing 600 mg per capsule.
In laboratory studies, garlic has been shown to inhibit
certain viruses, including certain influenza B and human rhinovirus
type 2 (Tsai, Planta Med 1985; Weber, Planta Med 1992). There is some
evidence that regular use of garlic may help prevent colds. One
double-blind, randomized trial among 146 men and women found that those who
took one garlic capsule (containing 180 mg of allicin powder) daily with a meal
for three months reported fewer colds than those who took a placebo (24 vs. 65,
respectively). However, garlic did not appear to shorten the duration of colds
compared to placebo (Josling, Adv Ther 2001).
Studies by a laboratory in Thailand indicated that sulfur compounds in garlic
essential oil (allyl disulfide and allyl trisulfide) interact with ACE2 protein
through which the coronavirus enters human cells (Thuy, ACS Omega 2020). However, there is no
current evidence that eating garlic or taking a garlic supplement can help
prevent or treat COVID-19, as noted on the World Health Organization's Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Myth
busters website.
There is also some evidence that consumption of garlic extract may help
prevent insect bites.
Aged garlic supplements may slightly reduce blood
pressure in hypertensive individuals. One clinical study of 84 men and
women with uncontrolled high blood pressure (average age of 72) who were taking
an average of two prescription anti-hypertensive medications found that taking
2 capsules of aged garlic (Kyolic High
Potency Everyday Formula 112 from Wakunaga/Wagner,
Sydney, Australia) daily for 3 months reduced systolic blood pressure by an
average of 11.8 mm Hg, but did not reduce diastolic blood pressure, compared to
placebo. The two capsules provided a daily dose of 480 mg of aged garlic
extract containing 1.2 mg S-allylcysteine, or SAC.
Neither a smaller dose (one capsule daily) nor a larger dose (four capsules
daily) significantly lowered blood pressure. The researchers noted that the
larger dose lowered systolic blood pressure, but this change did not reach
statistical significance -- they attributed this to the fact that two people
withdrew from the larger dose group due to gastrointestinal side-effects (Ried,
Eur J Clin Nutr 2013). A more recent 3-month study by the same lead researcher found
that giving adults with uncontrolled hypertension two 600 mg capsules of aged
garlic (Kyolic Aged Garlic Extract —
Reserve Formula) providing a total daily dose of 1,200 mg of aged garlic
extract powder and 1.2 mg of SAC reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure
by an average of 10 mm Hg and 5.4 mm Hg, respectively, compared to placebo. The
decrease was slightly more pronounced in those who were also taking at least
one anti-hypertension medication (about two-thirds of participants) compared to
those who took none. Five participants mentioned garlic taste and burping in
the first week of supplementation, but, overall, the capsules were
well-tolerated. The study was funded by Wakunaga (Ried,
Front Nutr 2018).
Very weak evidence from observational studies hint
that garlic as a food may help prevent colorectal and gastric cancers.
Supplementing with garlic was shown to reduce the risk of death from gastric
cancer in a multi-year study in a region of China with high rates of gastric
cancer, although this benefit was limited to those who had H. pylori infection
and, among them, the benefit was far greater for those who did not have a history
of drinking alcohol (Guo, JAMA Open 2020).
The garlic supplementation was given for 7.3 years and participants were
followed for an additional 15 years. The supplement consisted of capsules of Kyolic® aged garlic extract (400 mg) and steam-distilled
garlic oil (2 mg), each given two times per day (Gail, J Nutr 2006).
Quality Concerns and
Tests Performed:
Some
non-aged garlic preparations may not generate the amount of allicin regarded by
some as effective due to use of poor quality (low allicin yield) garlic and/or
low recommended dosages. While potentially helpful, the following types of
information are not in themselves sufficient to tell you how much allicin to
expect:
·
"Allicin-rich" claim. Unless defined in
terms of micrograms of allicin that a product should produce, this frequently
used term is meaningless.
·
Alliin amounts. Some products state their alliin
concentration. Alliin is converted to allicin, but the amount converted can be
as little as 10% to over 50%. Conversion depends on the amount and activity of
the converting enzyme alliinase.
·
Amount of dried garlic or
equivalent amount of fresh garlic. The allicin yield of garlic, fresh or
dried, can vary by more than three-fold depending on the garlic used. One gram
of fresh garlic should yield about 1,000 to 3,333 micrograms (1 to 3.333 mg) of
allicin. Since garlic is two-thirds water, dried garlic should yield about
three times as much allicin as an equal weight of fresh garlic, but this can
vary depending on how well the garlic has been dried. One gram of well-dried,
powdered garlic bulb should yield about 3,000 micrograms to 10,000 micrograms
of allicin, but can go higher or lower based on the garlic and its processing.
·
Extracts. A garlic "extract" is supposed to be more
concentrated than fresh or dried garlic. However, unless a product states its
level of concentration, the extract may not be much different from regular
dried powder (about 3 times the strength of fresh garlic).
·
Recommended daily serving. The recommended serving size on a
product may not be set to yield sufficient compounds for its intended
therapeutic use. You may need to adjust the dose depending on the actual yield
of allicin, SAC, or related compounds. (See What to Consider When Using).
CL purchased nine garlic
products and tested them for garlic-related compounds to determine whether or
not they met their claims and the minimum standards for garlic quality applied
in this review. Allicin yield was determined for non-aged garlic products.
(See Testing Methods and Minimum Standards).
To be "Approved," a product had to yield at least a minimum expected
amount of allicin or SAC (based on its type and amount of garlic), provide at
least 2,400 mcg of total allicin (allicin plus allicin potential calculated as
45% of alliin) in a daily dose (or 700 mcg of SAC for aged garlic extract
powder), meet all claims, and not exceed contamination limits for lead, cadmium
and arsenic for products containing whole herb and/or more than 250 mg of
minerals per daily dose. All products in tablet or caplet form were also tested
for disintegration (how long it takes to break apart in liquid) and, if
enteric-coated, products were tested to check they would not disintegrate in
simulated stomach acid and only in simulated intestinal fluid.
What CL Found:
As ConsumerLab.com has seen in the past, not all garlic products
are created equal and some may not even contain garlic. Only seven
products (including two tested through CL's voluntary Quality Certification Program)
met all quality criteria.
As shown in the graph below (and in the 2nd column of the Results table), the non-aged products were
found to provide 0 mcg (Spring Valley Odor-Controlled Garlic) to 40,910
mcg (Life Extension Optimized Garlic) of total allicin (i.e., allicin
plus allicin potential from alliin) per minimum suggested daily serving.
The aged garlics provided 944 mcg to 3,000 mcg of SAC per suggested daily
serving. Interestingly, several of the garlic supplements that were not labeled
as aged garlic (Solgar, Swanson,
and Nature's Way) provided even more SAC per daily serving than the
aged garlic supplements, and two others provided lower but still substantial
amounts of SAC (Life Extension and Garlique).
The huge variations in amounts of total allicin and SAC could certainly affect
the relative potency of products.
NOT Approved Products:
Spring Valley Odor-Controlled Garlic 1,000 mg per softgel was
NOT Approved because we could not detect any allicin, alliin, or SAC, despite
it claiming to provide the equivalent of 1,000 mg of fresh garlic bulb, which
should yield at least 5,000 mcg of alliin. The supplement facts panel also
states that this 1,000 mg is actually from 10 mg of a 100:1 garlic oil, but, in
this case, it should state that it contains 10 mg of garlic oil, not 1,000 mg
of garlic. We consider the labeling misleading.
Garlique, could have been Approved based on
the compounds found, had it not failed to list the amount of "Garlic
powder" that it contains — a FDA labeling requirement. We found and
identified the same problem with this product in our last review of it in
2014.
Although not included in the current testing, it is worth mentioning that, in
2014, we also tested Kwai Heartcare. It was found to provide 5,700
mcg of total allicin but it could not be Approved because it took slightly more
time to disintegrate than we expect of supplements, although it did fully
disintegrate when given an extra 10 minutes, so this issue may be minor in
terms of efficacy.
None of the products in this Review exceeded contamination limits for lead or
other tested heavy metals, as was the case in our 2014 tests, although lead had
been found in our tests of garlic supplements in earlier years.
Getting Quality Garlic at Low Cost:
For non-aged garlic, i.e., garlic powders, concentrates, and extracts, a daily
dose providing 5,000 mcg of total allicin would generally be considered a
significant dose. Among the products tested, we calculated the cost to obtain
such a dose (shown in the graph below and in the 4th column of the Results table further below) and found
the lowest cost to be under 1 cent from Life Extension Optimized Garlic.
In fact, the suggested 2-capsule serving provides 8 times this amount, or a
whopping 40,910 mcg of total allicin. The cost to get 5,000 mcg of total
allicin from the other products ranged from 9 cents (Nature's Way Garlinase) to 61 cents (Allimax
Allicin). Interestingly, the only "maximum" aspect of Allimax Allicin was its cost, as did not
provide a particularly large amount of total allicin relative to most other
products.
Among the aged garlic products, Kyolic
Aged Garlic Extract Extra Strength Reserve provided the most SAC
(1,500 mcg per capsule vs. 472 mcg per 2 capsules of The Vitamin Shoppe
Aged Garlic Extract) and at lower cost (9 cents vs. 26 cents per 700 mcg of
SAC), as shown in the graph below and in the 4th column of the table further below.
Interestingly, two products that were not labeled as aged garlic, Swanson
Best Garlic Odor-Controlled and Solgar
Garlic Powder, both provided SAC at even lower cost (1 cent and 4 cents,
respectively) than the aged garlic products.
Top Picks:
Non-Aged Garlic: All of the Approved products provide
substantial total allicin, but Life Extension Optimized Garlic is
our Top Pick. It is in a league of its own in terms of strength,
providing the most total allicin (40,910 mcg per 2 capsule
suggested serving), and it provide this allicin at low cost. Its label suggests
that a 2 capsule serving be taken one to four times
daily, which would mean a maximum of 8 capsules providing 327,280 mcg of total
allicin. But the truth is that if you took just a single capsule (9 cents),
you'd still get more than 20,000 mcg of total allicin, more than we found
in a daily serving of any other product.
Aged Garlic: Kyolic Aged Garlic
Extract Extra Strength Reserve is our Top Pick among
aged garlic products, as it provides three times as much SAC as The
Vitamin Shoppe Aged Garlic Extract (3,000 mcg in 2 capsules vs. 944
mcg in 4 capsules) at comparable cost (40 cents vs. 34 cents). However, as
noted earlier, just a single capsule of two of the garlic
powder supplements, Solgar Garlic
Powder (24 cents) and Swanson Odor-Controlled Garlic (7
cents) each provide over 4,000 mcg of SAC, even though neither makes a claim
regarding SAC. These remain reasonable alternatives to the "aged
garlic" products as they provide more SAC per pill than either aged garlic
product. Furthermore, Swanson is only 7 cents per capsule
versus 40 cents for two capsules of Kyolic.
Overall Garlic Supplement: Because of its large amounts
of total allicin and SAC and its relatively low cost, as described above,
our Top Pick for an overall garlic supplement is Swanson
Best Garlic Odor-Controlled Garlic.
Test Results by Product:
Listed
below are the test results for nine garlic supplements. Products are grouped by
type — seven made from fresh garlic (non-aged) and two made from aged garlic.
Products are listed alphabetically within each group. ConsumerLab.com selected
seven of these products. Two products (indicated with a CL flask) were tested
at the request its manufacturers/distributors through our voluntary Quality Certification Program and is
included for having passed testing.
Shown for each product is the claimed amount of the tested ingredient, daily
serving size recommended on its label, and amount of total allicin and/or SAC
per daily serving (based on amount claimed or, if not claimed, found). Products
listed as "Approved" met their label claims and ConsumerLab.com's
quality criteria (see Passing Score). Cost comparisons are provided
in the 4th column and notable
features (including special dietary designations) are listed in the 5th column. The full list of ingredients is
available for each product in the last column on the right.
Results of
ConsumerLab.com Testing of GARLIC SUPPLEMENTS
(Click arrows or swipe left or right to see all columns)
Approval Status
Product Name
(Suggested Serving on Label)
Suggested Use
Claimed Amount and Form of Garlic
Total Allicinⓘ and
SACⓘ Found
Per Daily Serving
Additional Results: Allicin and Alliin Found Per
Serving
Heavy Metalsⓘ
Enteric Coatingⓘ
Cost for Suggested Serving
Price
Suggested Daily Serving on Label
Pill Sizeⓘ
Notable Features
Full List of Ingredients Per Serving
Garlic (From fresh, dried garlic or extract - Non-Aged):
APPROVED
AlliMax® Allicin
Dist. by Allimax
Nutraceuticals US
Take one capsule daily, or more if recommended by your healthcare
professional.
1 vegetarian capsule
180 mg bulb extract (Allisure®)
Total allicin: 5,212.5 mcg
SAC: 27 mcg (0.015% of extract)
1
vegetarian capsule
Alliin: 7,050 mg (3.9% of extract)
Allicin:
2,040 mcg allicin (1.1% of extract)
Heavy Metals: NA
$0.64/vegetarian capsule
[$0.61 for 5,000 mcg total allicin based on amount found]
[$16.60 for 700 mcg SAC based on amount found]
$19.21/30 vegetarian capsules
Medium/large vegetarian capsule
Made without corn, wheat, gluten, yeast, soy,
sugar, dairy, artificial colors or flavors.
1 vegetarian capsule
Allicin extract (Garlic bulb) (Allisure® AC-23) 180
mg.
Other Ingredients: Vegetarian capsule (hypromellose,
water), maltodextrin (non-GMO), gum acacia.
NOT APPROVED
Garlique®
Dist. by Focus Consumer Healthcare, LLC
Take one caplet daily, preferably with a meal.
1 enteric coated caplet
Type and amount of garlic not listed
Total allicin: 14,105 mcg (claims "not
less than 5,000 mcg" ✔)
SAC: 294 mcg
Fail to list amount of garlic, an FDA
requirement, although contained adequate garlic compounds
1 enteric
coated caplet
Alliin: 19,500 mcg
Allicin:
5,330 mcg
Heavy Metals: Pass
Enteric coating: Pass
$0.30/caplet
[$0.11 for 5,000 mcg total allicin based on amount found]
[$0.71 for 700 mcg SAC based on amount found]
$17.99/60 caplets
Medium/large caplet
Odor-free. Contains No: Sugar, starch, yeast,
caffeine, dairy or preservatives.
1 caplet
Garlic powder (bulb) (not less than 5,000 mcg of allicin yield).
Other Ingredients: Silicified microcrystalline cellulose, croscarmellose
sodium, methacrylic acid, hypromellose, magnesium
stearate, stearic acid, magnesium silicate, titanium dioxide, mineral oil,
triacetin, polyethylene glycol, microcrystalline cellulose, glycerol
monostearate, triethyl citrate, sodium lauryl sulfate (245-42).
APPROVED
Top Pick
Non-Aged Garlic
Life Extension® Optimized Garlic
Dist. by Quality Supplements and Vitamins, Inc.
Take two (2) capsules one to four times daily with the heaviest
meals, or as recommended by a healthcare practitioner.
2 vegetarian capsules
1,200 mg bulb extract
Total allicin: 40,910 mcg
SAC: 224 mcg (0.019% of extract)
2
vegetarian capsules
Alliin: 57,400 mcg (4.8% of extract)
Allicin
potential: 25,830 mcg (claims 10,000 ppm [14,680 mcgⓘ] ✔)
Allicin:
15,080 mcg allicin (3.4% of garlic extract)
Heavy Metals: NA
$0.19/2 vegetarian capsules
[$0.02 for 5,000 mcg total allicin based on amount found]
[$0.58 for 700 mcg SAC based on amount found]
$18.71/200 vegetarian capsules
Large vegetarian capsule
Non-GMO.
2 vegetarian capsules
Garlic extract (bulb) [std. to 10,000 ppm allicin potential] 1,200 mg.
Other Ingredients: Vegetable cellulose (capsule), microcrystalline cellulose,
vegetable stearate.
APPROVED
Nature's Way Garlinase®
5,000
Dist. by Nature's Way Brands, LLC
Take 1 tablet daily with food.
1 enteric-coated tablet
320 mg bulb extract
Total allicin: 14,865 mcg
SAC: 593 mcg (0.11% of extract)
1
enteric-coated tablet
Alliin: 19,700 mcg (6.2% of extract) (claims 10,880 mcg ✔)
Allicin:
6,000 mcg (1.9% of garlic extract)
Heavy Metals: NA
Enteric coating: Pass
$0.28/tablet
[$0.09 for 5,000 mcg total allicin based on amount found]
[$0.33 for 700 mcg SAC based on amount found]
$8.26/30 enteric-coated tablets
Medium circular enteric-coated tablet
Vegan. Gluten Free. No sugar, salt, yeast,
wheat, corn, soy, dairy products, artificial flavors, or preservatives.
1 enteric-coated tablet
Garlic (Allium sativum) Bulb [Extract standardized to 3.4% alliin (10.88
mg)] 320 mg.
Other Ingredients: Cellulose, sodium croscarmellose, hypromellose,
titanium dioxide color, ethylcellulose, calcium
stearate, silicon dioxide, glycerin, sodium alginate, medium chain
triglycerides, oleic acid, stearic acid.
APPROVED
Solgar® Garlic Powder 500 mg
Mfd. by Solgar, Inc.
As a food supplement for adults, one (1) or to (2) vegetable
capsules daily, preferably at mealtime, or as directed by a healthcare
practitioner.
1 vegetable capsule
500 mg clove powder
Total allicin: 5,693 mcg
SAC: 4,500 mcg (0.9% of powder)
1
vegetable capsule
Alliin: 6,740 mcg (1.3% of powder)
Allicin:
2,660 mcg (0.53% of powder)
Heavy Metals: Pass
$0.24/vegetable capsule
[$0.21 for 5,000 mcg total allicin based on amount found]
[$0.04 for 700 mcg SAC based on amount found]
$21.60/90 vegetable capsules
Large vegetable capsule
Suitable For Vegans. Sugar, Salt And Starch Free. Kosher. Free Of: Gluten, Wheat, Diary,
Soya, Yeast, Preservatives, Sweeteners, Artificial Flavours
or Colours.
1 vegetable capsule
Garlic Clove (Allium sativum) Powder [Allicin Yield 750 mcg, Alliin
5,000 mcg] 500 mg.
Other Ingredients: Hydroxypropyl-
methyl cellulose.
NOT APPROVED
Spring Valley™ [Walmart] Garlic 1,000 mg
Dist. by Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Adults, take one softgel daily,
preferably with a meal.
1 softgel
Odor controlled garlic (bulb) (from 10 mg [100:1] garlic oil concentrate) 1,000
mg
Found no detectable amounts
of alliin, allicin or SACⓘ.
Found no
detectable amounts of alliin, allicin or SACⓘ
Heavy Metals: NA
$0.06/softgel
$11.88/two bottles of 100 softgels (200 softgels total)
Medium softgel
Odor-Controlled. No Gluten, Artificial Colors or
Flavors, Sugar, Lactose.
Precaution: May contain: Silicon Dioxide.
1 softgel
Odor Controlled Garlic (bulb) (from 10 mg [100:1] Garlic Oil Concentrate) 1,000
mg (1 g).
Ingredients: Soybean Oil, Gelatin, Glycerin, Purified Water USP, Garlic Oil
Concentrate.
APPROVED
Top Pick
Overall Garlic Supplement
Swanson® Best Garlic Odor-Controlled Garlic
Dist. by Swanson Health Product
Take one capsule three times per day with food and water.
3 capsules
1,500 mg bulb powder
Total Allicin: 6,030 mcg
SAC: 12,900 mcg (0.86% of powder)
1 capsule
Alliin: 3,060 mcg (0.61% of powder)
Allicin:
633 mcg (0.13% of powder)
Heavy Metals: Pass
$0.07/capsule
[$0.17 for 5,000 mcg total allicin based on amount found]
[$0.01 for 700 mcg SAC based on amount found]
$6.74/100 capsules
Large capsule
Odor-Controlled.
1 capsule
Odor-Controlled Garlic (Allium sativum) (bulb) 500 mg.
Other ingredients: Gelatin, magnesium stearate, silica.
Aged Garlic:
APPROVED
Top Pick
Aged Garlic
Kyolic Aged Garlic Extract™ Extra
Strength Reserve
Mfd. by Wakunaga of
America Co., Ltd.
Take one capsule with a meal twice daily.
2 capsules
1,200 mg aged extract
SAC: 3,000 mcg (0.25% of extract)
Heavy
Metals: NA
$0.20/capsule
[$0.09 for 700 mcg SAC based on amount found]
$23.69/120 capsules
Large capsule
Free Of: GMOs, soy, gluten, sugar, dairy,
sodium, yeast, preservatives, artificial colors or flavors.
1 capsule
Aged Garlic Extract™ Powder (bulb) 600 mg.
Other Ingredients: Gelatin, cellulose, magnesium stearate (vegetable source)
and silica.
APPROVED
The Vitamin Shoppe® Aged Garlic Extract™
Dist. by Vitamin Shoppe, Inc.
Take two (2) capsules twice daily, preferably with meals.
4 capsules
1,200 mg aged extract
SAC: 944 mcg (0.079% of extract)
Heavy
Metals: NA
$0.17/2 capsules
[$0.26 for 700 mcg SAC based on amount found]
$25.99/300 capsules
Large capsule
Odorless. Does not contain: Gluten, Sugar, Salt,
Preservatives, Artificial Colors or Flavors.
Precaution: Contains: Milk.
2 capsules
Aged Garlic Extract™ Powder (bulb) 600 mg.
Other Ingredients: Whey, gelatin, magnesium stearate.
Unless otherwise noted, information about the
products listed above is based on the samples purchased by ConsumerLab.com (CL)
for this Product Review. Manufacturers may change ingredients and label information
at any time, so be sure to check labels carefully when evaluating the products you use or buy. If a product's ingredients differ
from what is listed above, it may not necessarily be of the same quality as
what was tested.
The information contained in this report is
based on the compilation and review of information from product labeling and
analytic testing. CL applies what it believes to be the most appropriate
testing methods and standards. The information in this report does not reflect
the opinion or recommendation of CL, its officers or employees. CL cannot
assure the accuracy of information.
Copyright ConsumerLab.com, LLC, 2021 All
rights reserved. Not to be reproduced, excerpted, or cited in any fashion
without the express written permission of ConsumerLab.com LLC
ConsumerTips™:
What to
Consider When Buying:
Forms of Garlic:
Garlic pills are always made of some type of garlic powder. Some manufacturers
often describe their ingredients in terms of the amount
of fresh garlic used to make the powder while others state the amount of garlic
powder (also called "dried garlic"). It is important to note the
difference, since garlic powder should be at least twice, and usually three
times, more concentrated than fresh garlic.
Garlic extracts should be about nine to thirteen times as
concentrated as fresh garlic, but this can vary. If a product says
"extract" or "concentrate" but does not state the
equivalent amount of fresh garlic or the amount of
alliin or allicin to expect, it may not be more concentrated than garlic
powder.
Aged garlic does not have the characteristic odor of garlic because
it does not produce allicin. However, it does contain allicin-related compounds
that may have clinical effect. Aged garlic extract should be standardized to
contain not less than 0.05% S-allyl-L-cysteine ("SAC"). The amount of
SAC in a 1,400 mg daily dose of aged garlic extract powder would be about 700
mcg (0.7 mg).
Many products claim to have "odorless," "odor free," or
"odor controlled" garlic. Because it is allicin that causes garlic
odor, odorless products are supposedly produced in a way to reduce the amount
of allicin formed before you take the supplement. It is not uncommon, however,
for products claiming reduced odor to still have a garlic odor or to cause such
an odor after being ingested.
Enteric coating may be beneficial, as it protects the
enzyme alliinase from stomach acid, permitting more allicin to be formed
further in the gut. Fresh garlic may be used. One small clove
provides approximately 4 grams of fresh garlic, yielding approximately 4,000 to
12,000 mcg of allicin (4 to 12 mg). Based on a limited sample of fresh garlic
purchased by ConsumerLab.com at supermarkets, cloves tend to weigh about 7
grams on average — so the amount of allicin in some cloves is likely to exceed
this range.
Some products list their amount or concentration of alliin (the precursor to
allicin). Most clinical studies have used a standardized garlic powder extract
that is 1.3% alliin - 13 mcg alliin per milligram of powder. However, the
capacity to turn this into allicin can vary considerably depending on the
product — a function of the amount and activity of the enzyme alliinase present
— and can be as little as 10% to over 50%.
Black garlic is produced by fermenting
fresh garlic at a high temperature under high humidity. Like aged garlic, it
has little allicin potential as allicin in converted into other compounds. As a
result, black garlic can have a mild, sweet taste. Although animal studies
suggest black garlic may have anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and other
potentially beneficially effects, there are few studies on the effects of black
garlic supplementation in people (Kimura, J Food Drug Anal 2017).
These studies have used black garlic extracts. One study among 55 men and women
in the Republic of Korea with borderline-high LDL cholesterol (average 150
mg/dL) found that 3 grams of aged black garlic extract taken twice daily (providing
a daily total of 780 mcg SAC and no allicin) for three months slightly
increased "good" HDL cholesterol, but did not decrease
"bad" LDL cholesterol, total cholesterol or triglyceride levels
compared to placebo. The effects on blood pressure were not reported (Jung, Nutrition 2014). A study in China among
120 men and women (average age 40) with chronic heart failure (CHF) of moderate
severity found that 20 grams of black garlic extract taken daily for six months
improved left-ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) by about 14%, and improved
self-reported quality-of-life compared to placebo. Effects on cholesterol
levels and blood pressure were not reported (Liu, Front Physiol 2018).
In garlic oils, allicin is converted into allyl sulfides that are
also thought to have biological activity.
What to Consider When Using:
Non-aged garlic: For non-aged garlic, some evidence suggests that a
daily serving should provide at least 3,600 to 5,400 mcg of allicin. One clove
of garlic (weighing approximately 4 grams) should yield this amount of allicin
or more. The amount of dried garlic powder needed will depend on the allicin
yield of the ingredient. For a powder with very high allicin potential
(yielding 10,000 to 12,000 mcg of allicin per gram of powder) 600 mg of powder
will yield an adequate dose. About 900 mg per day is appropriate for garlic
powders with yields of 5,000 to 10,000 mcg of allicin per gram. For a powder
with a more moderate yield of 3,000 - 5,000 mcg of allicin per gram, somewhat
more than one gram should be taken per day. Unfortunately (as demonstrated in
this review) it is difficult to know for certain the allicin yield of a
product.
Aged garlic: The dose of aged garlic, like non-aged garlic, depends
on its concentration. Daily dosage ranges from about 600 mg for a concentrated
extract to up to 7 grams for less concentrated forms. One aged garlic product
used in clinical trials was standardized to contain 0.05% SAC.
Garlic oil: There is not a lot of information to suggest the right
type and dose of garlic oil. One German study found benefit with a daily dose
of 0.1 mg of oil per kilogram of body weight — about 7 mg per day for an adult.
However, the concentration of garlic compounds in the oil was not
described.
Concerns and Cautions:
Garlic
is believed to be generally safe, even at high doses. Bad breath is the only
common side effect with non-aged garlic. However, other side effects can occur,
particularly when excessive doses are used. These include gastrointestinal
upset, including nausea and vomiting. Facial flushing, rapid pulse, dizziness,
allergies, and insomnia have also been reported. Long-term safety of aged
garlic has been established in animal studies, but the long-term safety of high-allicin,
non-aged garlic is less well evaluated.
Garlic can also
"thin" the blood. In order to avoid bleeding problems, it should not
be taken prior to or immediately after surgery, near the time of childbirth, in
combination with blood thinning medications such as warfarin (Coumadin) or
aspirin, or in combination with blood thinning supplements such as ginkgo,
policosanol, and high-dose vitamin E.
Garlic preparations may
also decrease the effectiveness of birth control drugs, cyclosporine, protease
inhibitors, and other drugs. Discuss this with your doctor before using garlic
supplements.
Applying crushed, raw garlic to the skin may cause
second-degree, partial thickness burns, especially when garlic on the skin is
covered with a wrapping or bandage and left on for an extended period (e.g.,
overnight). At least 39 cases have been reported, with the most common reason
for use being pain treatment, followed by treatment of skin or respiratory
conditions, and treatment of fever and colds. In some cases, tissue necrosis
(tissue death), infection and scarring has occurred. Garlic-induced burns are
attributed to allicin naturally formed in crushed garlic (Hitl,
Am J Emerg Med 2021).
Latest Clinical Research Updates for Garlic Supplements
2/03/2021
Be aware that garlic
applied to the skin may cause severe burns, and dozens of cases have been
reported. Find out which form of garlic and type of skin application is
particularly dangerous in the Concerns and Cautions section of our
Garlic Supplements Review.
Can Garlic Slow Atherosclerosis?
5/02/2020
Can taking a garlic
supplement slow the build-up of plaque in arteries? See what a new study found
in the What It Does section
of the Garlic Supplements Review. Also see our top choices for garlic supplements.
1/23/2019
If you have high blood
pressure, a particular garlic supplement may provide some benefit, according to
a recent study. For details, see the "What It Does" section
of the Garlic Supplements Review. Also see our top choices for garlic supplements.
Does Garlic Lower Cholesterol?
2/19/2012
Garlic can lower
total cholesterol but not by lowering so called "bad" or LDL
cholesterol, according to a recent analysis. Find out more in the update to
the Garlic Supplements Review, which includes our tests of garlic
supplements and information on dosing. More >>
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