Kyolic® Aged Garlic Extract™ Reduces Cardiovascular Risk Factors in People with Type 2 Diabetes – A Review of Three Studies

But a trio of studies focusing on diabetics that was recently published in the journal Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine suggests that Kyolic® Aged Garlic Extract™ supplement reduces multiple risk factors that increase their risk of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a condition where the interior lining of arteries (the endothelium) becomes damaged, leading to the buildup of dangerous plaque that can cause a heart attack or stroke.

People with type 2 diabetes often experience an increase in chronic low level inflammation and oxidized LDL (bad) cholesterol that can damage the endothelial lining of arteries. This triggers the formation of plaque at the site of the damage. Plaque is a fatty substance made up of cholesterol, calcium, cellular waste, and a blood-clotting material called fibrin that causes the endothelium to malfunction. Over time, this plaque accumulates, further damaging the endothelium and causing the arteries to become narrow and stiff. As plaque builds up, it can eventually reduce blood flow to the heart, brain, and other parts of the body. If plaque becomes unstable it can rupture, causing a blood clot to form that can completely block the artery. But these new studies have found that AGE protects the endothelium and may lessen the risk of a future cardiac event.

Study Review and Findings

The first of the three studies demonstrated that Kyolic AGE has a direct impact on the health of arteries. During this double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial, 65 people who had been diagnosed with diabetes were assigned to take either a daily dose of AGE or a placebo for three months. At the end of the study, tests indicated that those in the AGE group had better endothelial function and less arterial stiffness than those taking the placebo.

During the second clinical trial, researchers found that AGE reduced soft plaque—technically known as low-attenuation plaque—in arteries. This soft plaque is especially dangerous because it is unstable and poses a high risk of rupturing. This study measured the amount of total plaque and soft plaque in 66 people with diabetes using an imaging system known as cardiac computed tomography angiography (CCTA). Once evaluated, the participants were divided into two groups: one taking 2400 mg of AGE daily and another taking placebo capsules. After a year and another CCTA screening, the researchers reported that, compared with the placebo group, those taking AGE experienced a significant reduction in the amount of soft plaque found in their arteries.

In the third study, CCTA revealed that AGE also reduced left ventricular myocardial mass (LVM) in 65 patients with type 2 diabetes. LVM is a measurement that can help predict cardiovascular events like heart attack, as well as premature death, and it often goes hand-in-hand with a condition known as left ventricular hypertrophy—the enlargement and thickening of the walls of your heart’s main pumping chamber. After one year of supplementation, AGE reduced LVM by as much as 1.65 percent compared to a placebo. The researchers noted that AGE has been shown in previous studies to lower blood pressure and reduce inflammation inside arteries, two actions which are likely to improved LVM and reduce the risk of left ventricular hypertrophy.

“The findings of these three clinical trials not only add to a growing body of evidence that points to the many ways Kyolic Aged Garlic Extract improves cardiovascular health, they focus specially on those with type 2 diabetes,” says Dr. Budoff, one of the key authors participating in all three studies.

Earlier studies by Budoff and the Harbor-UCLA investigators show that Kyolic Aged Garlic Extract, either on its own or combined with other nutrients, inhibits the progression of coronary artery calcification, lowers blood pressure, and reduces cholesterol oxidation. Taken together, this new evidence shows that AGE can play an even greater role in preventing or slowing the progression of numerous risk factors for atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease in a key demographic.

“The mounting number of studies showing the multiple ways Kyolic Aged Garlic Extract benefits cardiovascular health is truly exciting,” says Jay Levy, Director of Sales for Wakunaga of America.  “These three studies are especially good news, particularly for at-risk populations such as those with diabetes.”

This article is for informational purposes only. This article is not, nor is it intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and should never be relied upon for specific medical advice.

1. Hamal S, Cherukuri L, Birudaraju D, et al. Short-term impact of aged garlic extract on endothelial function in diabetes: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine. 2020; 19:1485-1489.
2. Shaikh K, Kinninger A, Cherukuri L, et al. Aged garlic extract reduces low attenuation plaque in coronary arteries of patients with diabetes: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine. 2020; 19:1457-1461.
3. Huchhins E, Shaikh K, Kinninger A, et al. Aged garlic extract reduces left ventricular myocardial mass in patients with diabetes: A prospective randomized controlled double-blind study. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine. 2020; 19:1468-1471.
4. Hom C, Budoff M, Luo Y. The effects of aged garlic extract on coronary artery calcification progression and blood pressure. 2015;65(10) Supplement.

This article is for informational purposes only. This article is not, nor is it intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and should never be relied upon for specific medical advice.