Garlic
Garlic (Allium sativum) is a bulb of the onion family, used as food and in traditional medicine for thousands of years. Crushing it releases allicin.
Also listed as Garlic Extract, Allium sativum, Garlic Bulb, Garlic Powder
What it is studied for
The strongest rated effects first. Bars show the size of the effect, the letter grades the evidence, and each rating lists the studies behind it.
Can garlic help beyond the kitchen?
Garlic, Allium sativum, is both a food and a supplement ingredient. Its best-studied uses concern blood lipids and blood pressure. NCCIH describes small possible reductions in cholesterol and in blood pressure among people whose levels are high, rather than a general benefit for everyone. 1
Why preparations differ
Garlic contains sulfur compounds, including alliin and its conversion product allicin; S-allyl-cysteine is another studied constituent. The European ESCOP monograph reviews these alongside garlic preparations. A product name alone therefore gives less information than its preparation and characterized constituents. 2
Key studies
The most recent publications linked to Garlic's ratings.
Why people take it
SuppCo community snapshot, 2026-09-28. Reasons for use are not evidence that it works.
Questions people ask
Does garlic lower normal blood pressure?
The cited meta-analysis did not find reductions in people without elevated systolic pressure. Its positive result came from the higher-pressure group. 3
Does lower cholesterol prove fewer heart attacks?
No. The cited evidence mainly measures cardiovascular risk markers, and the trials differ substantially. 4
Will an odorless product necessarily work better?
The reviewed evidence does not establish that absence of odor predicts clinical benefit; preparation and studied constituents are more relevant to comparing products. 2 4
Should a surgical team know about garlic capsules?
Yes. NCCIH specifically highlights supplement use before surgery because of bleeding risk. 1