Dr. Amagase explains that Aged Garlic Extract reduces or inhibits multiple risk factors for heart diseases, especially slowing down the plaque formation in the heart's arteries. It also may lower homocysteine levels in the blood - now considered a major risk factor for heart attacks.
Recent clinical studies indicate that herbal supplements, such as the Aged Garlic Extract (Kyolic�) can be combined with traditional therapeutic medicines including statins (cholesterol-lowering drugs) without any contra-indications. Many doctors know that medications have limitations. In the case of statins, only about 30 percent of patients benefit from the drug treatment. Because of its many beneficial functions that help to reduce multiple risk factors of heart disease, Aged Garlic Extract can be useful as a complementary medicine for patients already using traditional medications.
In his presentation, Dr. Amagase discusses several double blind, randomized clinical studies in which investigators tested the efficacy of Aged Garlic Extract on atherosclerosis and its risk factors in both normal/moderate risk people and cardiac patients. The studies ranged in duration from three months to one year. Results demonstrated the ability of Aged Garlic Extract to inhibit the rate of progression of coronary calcium - suggesting that it may be useful and beneficial for the treatment and prevention of cardiac atherosclerosis. Among these clinical studies, investigators in many universities tested the efficacy of Aged Garlic Extract on the various cardiovascular disease risk factors. Results demonstrated the following benefits of Aged Garlic Extract:
� Lowers total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL (bad cholesterol), homocysteine
� Increases HDL (good cholesterol)
� Reduces platelet aggregation and adhesion (blood thinning effect)
� Lowers blood pressure
� Stimulates blood circulation
� Reduces LDL oxidation (reduces stickiness),
� Reduces oxidative damage in the body caused by smoking,
� Inhibits the rate of progression of coronary calcium formation
"This is tremendous news for people on statin therapy," says Dr. Amagase. "These works clearly show that Aged Garlic Extract has positive influence on various risk factors of heart disease, as compared to placebo. They suggest that Aged Garlic Extract may be a useful and beneficial dietary addition for people on statins, or for those who have high cardiovascular risk, have a family history related to heart disease, or have undergone heart surgery, and/or medicinal treatment" he added.
The patient compliance in these clinical studies was confirmed by significantly high S-allyl cysteine (SAC) level in the blood among the patients in the Aged Garlic Extract group compared to the placebo. SAC is non-odorous and one of the active compounds in Aged Garlic Extract. High SAC levels are produced by a long aging extraction process. Aged Garlic Extract is standardized with SAC: a real, bioavailable active compound, unlike other garlic supplements.
More than 350 scientific studies by major universities have been completed on Aged Garlic Extract. These studies have focused on aspects in cardiovascular disease, immune stimulation, cognitive effects, liver function and anti-tumor effects.