title: Effect of garlic on plasma lipoprotein(a) concentrations: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Garlic can play an essential role in the prevention of atherosclerosis, but the research addressing the effect of garlic on the concentration of lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] has not been fully demonstrated. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of garlic on plasma Lp(a) concentrations through systematic review of literature and meta-analysis of available randomized controlled trials.
  
  
  METHODS
  The literature search included SCOPUS, PubMed-Medline, ISI Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases up to March 10, 2015 to identify randomized controlled trials investigating the effect of garlic on plasma Lp(a) concentrations. Two independent reviewers extracted data on study characteristics, methods, and outcomes. Overall, the effect of garlic on plasma Lp(a) levels was reported in six trials.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Meta-analysis did not suggest a significant alteration in plasma Lp(a) levels after garlic consumption (weighted mean difference [WMD] = 16.86%; 95% confidence interval, -4.59 to 38.31; P = 0.124). This result was robust in the leave-one-out sensitivity analysis. When the studies were categorized according to the duration of supplementation, there was no effect in the subgroup of trials lasting ≤12 wk (WMD = 2.01%; 95% CI, -14.67 to 18.68; P = 0.813) but a significant elevation of plasma Lp(a) concentrations was found in trials lasting >12 wk (WMD = 54.59%; 95% CI, 30.47-78.71; P < 0.001). Random-effects meta-regression suggested an inverse association between the changes in plasma concentrations of Lp(a) and duration of supplementation (slope 1.71; 95% CI, 0.46-2.97; P = 0.007).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present meta-analysis did not suggest a significant effect of garlic supplementation on the reduction of Lp(a) levels.
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Metabolic Research Centre, Royal Perth Hospital, School of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.
authors.forename: Amirhossein
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sahebkar
authors.affiliation: Department of Functional Sciences, Discipline of Pathophysiology, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania.
authors.forename: Corina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Serban
authors.affiliation: Department of Functional Sciences, Discipline of Pathophysiology, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania.
authors.forename: Sorin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ursoniu
authors.affiliation: Department of Hypertension, Chair of Nephrology and Hypertension, Medical University of Lodz, Poland. Electronic address: Maciejbanach@aol.co.uk.
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Banach
mesh_terms: D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005737:Garlic; D006801:Humans; D017270:Lipoprotein(a) / Q000097:blood*; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D017270:Lipoprotein(a); D028321:Plant Preparations
keywords: Allium sativum; Garlic; Lipids; Lipoprotein(a)