What is garlic extract good for?
In addition to its culinary importance, garlic has also been used for millennia for medicinal purposes, with documented usage dating back to ancient Egyptians, Greeks, Romans and Chinese, to name but a few. In more recent times, garlic extract aims to provide these compounds in a refined, concentrated form.
Nutritional value of garlic
Garlic also carries trace minerals such as selenium and manganese, as well as vitamin C and vitamin B6, although much of its activity comes from compounds that only form when fresh garlic cloves are crushed or chopped, namely a compound called allicin.However, allicin is unstable, in the sense that it is only available for a brief period after formation, so it is important to consume fresh garlic shortly after preparation in order to take advantage of the allicin compounds that it so kindly provides.
Effects on the immune system
Research shows that many of garlic's compounds have antioxidant and antiviral properties, and they are studied for the immune system, including their effect on how viruses enter cells, and on how they replicate within cells they may have already entered.A study performed in 2016 looked at aged garlic extract taken for the duration of the flu season, measuring symptom severity and recovery, and the reported figures were kinder to the garlic group.
These same compounds are also studied in cancer research, including their effect on how a cancerous cell duplicates, and on cancer cell death, a process known as apoptosis.
Effects on the cardiovascular health
Garlic is also studied for cholesterol levels, in particular its effect on LDL, which we understand to be the bad form of cholesterol. Several studies have reported lower LDL cholesterol from incorporating garlic into the diet, or from taking garlic extract supplementation for several months.They also found it to be of particular interest in people that already have high cholesterol levels.
Garlic is also known for its blood-thinning effect and is studied for blood pressure, including in people that have high blood pressure. Research has also looked at garlic supplements and its effect at reducing cardiovascular events.
Bone health
All of these factors combine to make garlic a familiar part of cardiovascular research, and garlic also has other, lesser known areas of interest. For example, did you know that garlic is also studied for bone health? I only found this out very recently.Studies have looked at garlic supplementation and calcium absorption, as well as oxidative stress on bone structure, and it is also studied in bone conditions such as osteoporosis.
So there you have it. Add extra garlic to your meal tonight!
Aged Garlic Extract (AGE)
In addition to garlic extract, you have no doubt also heard of "Aged Garlic Extract", also known as AGE. This is a proprietary form of garlic extract produced under the Kyolic brand by the company Wakunaga, made by aging the garlic through a special procedure that can last up to 20 months.Several key properties of the garlic are modifed when undergoing the aging process, perhaps most the most important being the stabilization of the allicin compound and several other compounds, enhancing its antioxidant effects. The distinct garlic aroma is also neutralized during the process, making it preferable for those who would rather not radiate a constant aura of garlic throughout the day.
AGE has been featured extensively in academic studies, with many peer-reviewed analyses looking at aged garlic extract and the immune system and cardiovascular health.
When should I take garlic extract?
There is no particular time of day that seems to be best suited for taking garlic extract, however it is recommended to take it in combination with a meal, the reason being that the stomach's overall acidity is reduced while food is present, allowing the garlic extract to survive initial digestion and pass through the stomach into the intestine, which is where the absorption process takes place.
What else pairs well with garlic extract?
Also taken with ubiquinol, for cardiovascular health
One study tested a combination of aged garlic extract and CoQ10, known as ubiquinol in its refined form, to see if such a combination had favorable effect on atherosclerosis, a condition characterized by the narrowing and hardening of the arteries due to an accumulation of plaque in the artery walls.After adjustment for age, gender, and other risk factors, it was found that the combined supplementation of aged garlic extract and CoQ10 was associated with a slower progression of atherosclerosis, as well as lower inflammatory markers associated with the condition.
Also taken with L-arginine and B-vitamins, for cardiovascular health
It has also been found that aged garlic extract, when combined with l-arginine and vitamins B6, B9 and B12, was likewise studied in relation to the progression of atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular risk factors.Also taken with B-complex, for nutritional deficiencies and nervous system
People take garlic extract with B-complex for nutritional deficiencies, nervous system, heart health and cholesterol levels, and each one is worth having on its own as well as alongside the other.What should I avoid taking garlic extract with?
Other blood-thinning supplements
Garlic extract has blood-thinning effects of its own, and so do vitamin E, bee propolis, fish oil and krill oil. All of them nudge clotting in the same direction, so the more of that list a routine carries, the further the combined effect goes.Avoid taking garlic extract at the same time as alcohol
Alcohol and garlic both relax the stomach lining, so a garlic capsule taken on a heavy drinking evening is more likely to bring heartburn than either alone. Keep the capsule with a meal that doesn't carry alcohol, and leave a few hours between the two.What are natural sources of garlic extract?
If you are interested in obtaining your daily garlic extract through your diet, you can often find it in:
You know it as a seasoning: crushed raw into dressings, sliced into warm oil at the start of a dish, roasted whole until soft and sweet, or dried and ground for the spice rack. Its sulfur compounds form only when the cells are broken by chopping, which is why a whole clove smells of so little and a freshly mashed one is so pungent.
Who should avoid taking garlic extract?
Before taking garlic extract supplements, check with your trusted healthcare professional if any of the following apply to you:
- Bleeding disorders
- Upcoming or recent surgery
Bleeding and surgery
Garlic extract thins the blood enough to matter before surgery and beside an anticoagulant, and the effect can persist for a week after the capsules stop, which is why it is important to stop taking it ahead of any planned operation.Remember to always discuss any vitamins or supplements with your trusted healthcare professional if you are suffering from any health conditions.
Possible side effects of garlic extract
Possible side effects from taking garlic extract supplements may include (but are not limited to) the following:
- Breath
- Heartburn
- Bleeding tendency
If you are experiencing negative side effects from taking garlic extract supplements, stop taking them immediately and reach out to your trusted healthcare professional.
Drug interactions with garlic extract
The medicines listed below are the ones most often named in interaction reports for garlic extract, but it is by no means a comprehensive list:
- Blood thinners
- Blood pressure medicines
Blood thinners
It is not recommended to take garlic extract together with any anticoagulant, or with blood-thinning medication, as garlic naturally already has a blood-thinning effect.If you are taking any prescription drugs or medication, check with your trusted healthcare professional before taking garlic extract supplements.
Can I take garlic extract while pregnant or breastfeeding?
Garlic as a food is ordinary during pregnancy, and the amount in a meal isn't the concern, but there are no human pregnancy trials of the extract. The concentrated extract is taken for blood pressure and cholesterol, and it thins the blood a little, which matters near delivery and beside a planned operation, so avoid taking it to be on the safe side.
Remember to always discuss any vitamins or supplements with your trusted healthcare professional while pregnant or breastfeeding, or while attempting to conceive.
Where should I store garlic extract?
For optimal shelf life, it is recommended to keep garlic extract supplements stored in the cupboard. Always make sure the bottle or container is tightly closed, and kept away from sources of light, heat and humidity.
Garlic extract data sources & further reading
- 1.
- 2.
- 3.
- 4.
- 5.
- 6.
- 7.
- 8.
- 9.
- 10.
- 11.
- 12.
- 13.
- 14.
- 15.
- 16.
