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Evidence summaries

Garlic for Peripheral Arterial Occlusive Disease

Garlic might possibly not be effective for peripheral arterial occlusive disease but the evidence is insufficient. Level of evidence: "D"

The quality of evidence is downgraded by study limitations (unclear allocation concealment and failure to adhere to the intention-to-treat principle), by indirectness (differences between the outcomes of interest and those reported: only short-term outcomes reported), and by imprecise results (few patients).

Summary

A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included 1 study with 78 subjects (both men and women aged 40 to 75). The dose of garlic was 2 coated tablets of 200 mg oral standardised garlic powder twice daily. After12 weeks of treatment, pain-free walking distance increased similarly whether receiving garlic (from 161 to 207 metres) or placebo (from 172 to 203 metres). There was no difference in change of systolic or diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, ankle and brachial pressures. No severe side effects were observed and 9 patients taking garlic (28%) and 4 patients taking placebo (12%) complained of a noticeable garlic smell.

Clinical comments

Note

Date of latest search:

    References

    • Jepson RG, Kleijnen J, Leng GC. Garlic for peripheral arterial occlusive disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2013;(4):CD000095. [PubMed]

Primary/Secondary Keywords