Garlic aged until its sulfur compounds turn milder and water-soluble, making daily use practical. Strongest finding: a small, repeatable fall in blood pressure that adds to medication rather than replacing it. Inflammation and antioxidant markers improve; cholesterol results conflict. Liver, cancer, and brain claims rest on laboratory work only. Potency varies enormously; those already near optimal should expect little. (Full Review)
| Marker | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Home blood pressure | <120/<75 mmHg | The primary demonstrated effect |
| LDL-C | <100 mg/dL, <70 mg/dL if high risk | Tracks the contested lipid claim |
| Apolipoprotein B | <80 mg/dL, <60 mg/dL if high risk | The marker that moved in the whole-clove trial |
| Triglycerides | <80 mg/dL | Responded in pooled garlic data |
| HDL-C | >50 mg/dL men, >60 mg/dL women | Rose in the aged black garlic trial |
| hs-CRP | <0.5 mg/L | The best-supported inflammation effect |
| HbA1c | 4.8–5.3% | Small glycemic effect inherited from garlic data |
| Fasting glucose | 75–86 mg/dL | Confirms the HbA1c reading |
| Uric acid | 3.5–5.5 mg/dL | Fell in the standardized extract trial |
| ALT | <20 U/L men, <17 U/L women | Screens the hepatoprotection claim and detects harm |
| INR (warfarin users only) | Individual's prescribed range; track deviation from pre-supplement baseline | Detects the documented garlic-warfarin interaction |
Cadence: Baseline over one to two weeks before starting; home blood pressure weekly; full laboratory panel at 12 weeks, then every 6–12 months if continued; warfarin users check INR weekly for the first four weeks after any change.