Garlicked

My grandfather’s opinion of the kitchen in his house was quite simple. Everyone and everything should work in there except him.  

His concept of refilling his tea was to tap the rim of the nearly empty glass and say “Mary Ann!” My grandmother would then demonstrate moves that would make a linebacker going after a football proud, getting his glass, filling it and returning to her chair to continue her meal. 

So I was fascinated to find him sitting alone at the kitchen table one night actually preparing something to eat. Knife in hand, he was working on bulb looking thing I did not recognize. I was only twelve, not familiar with all the nuances of Western Tennessee cuisine, and was curious what would command such attention from my grandfather. 

(This was the same man who demonstrated the nuances of driving in West Tennessee - down the middle of the two lane road straddling the centerline until you see another driver.) 

“What’s that?” I asked. 

“Garlic.”

“Confused fellow,” I thought. “Garlic is a powder in a bottle that is used to make Funyuns (my favorite - dipped in peanut butter, of course) taste great.”

“It's called a clove,” he explained. “Ever had one?”

“No.”

“It's good for you. Good for your heart. You should try one,” he said as he peeled off a cashew shaped white portion of innocent looking garlic and laid it harmlessly in front of me on the table.

Not wanting to look cowardly to a man who seemed to have no fear, I sat down, took the subtle challenge to my history of finicky eating, and decided to try it. 

All of it. All at once. 

My first clue was the chuckling sound from my grandfather followed by the sound of the blood in my mouth and sinuses running for cover in the back of my skull. It seemed like someone had clamped a battery jumper cable to each of my nostrils, attached the other two clamps to a lightning generator in an old mad scientist movie, and then thrown the switch to the power. 

And the mad scientist was sitting there in front of me laughing like no man of his generation I had ever seen. Glad to make you laugh, Grandad, now how can I put this fire out?

He did this daily. A clove of raw garlic. It didn't even make him flinch. He lived another fifteen years after that with known heart disease and no statin cholesterol medications. 

I've often wondered where he got his information. Research seems to be agreeing with him now. 

A study in the Journal of Nutrition (Jan. 2016) performed at Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center revealed some very interesting findings about garlic.  

Matthew J. Budoff, MD, a lead researcher noted in his comments the benefits of garlic in reducing the accumulation of soft plaque and preventing the formation of new plaque in the arteries surrounding the heart.  

Atherosclerosis, or plaque, is the buildup of the lining of an artery which will slowly reduce the flow of blood over time.  In the coronary arteries this means a greater risk of heart attack. In the brain it means a greater risk of stroke (and dementia, some believe). 

The study consisted of 55 obese patients aged 45 to 70 who had high blood pressure, a poor lipid profile and elevated fasting sugar.  It measured plaque in the coronary arteries at the beginning.  The screening was conducted using Cardiac Computed Tomography Angiography (CCTA), a noninvasive imaging technology that accurately measures calcium deposits and plaque buildup in the arteries. Think of it as a very accurate CT scan. 

Part of the group was given placebo and the other portion of the group was given 2,400 mg of Aged Garlic Extract daily.  One year later a follow up scan was obtained.  The garlic had slowed total plaque accumulation by 80%,  reduced soft plaque, and showed regression for low-attenuation plaque.  

Regression means less blockage.  That means the one portion of the plaque actually improved over one year.  Improved is the key word. 

"We have completed four randomized studies, and they have led us to conclude that Aged Garlic Extract can help slow the progression of atherosclerosis and reverse the early stages of heart disease," said Dr. Budoff.  

This is significant in that the study actually demonstrated a change in the size of the build-up in the arteries and not simply improved some numbers on a blood test.  Niacin used to be a favorite supplement because in increased HDL (“good cholesterol”) numbers.  The American College of Cardiology stopped recommending niacin in 2013 as the improved numbers did not translate to improved heart conditions.  

There are other studies which have suggested the same outcome with garlic.  A few noted side effects of garlic are irritation of the stomach, stomach pain, possible bleeding disorders, and allergic reactions. 

Oh, and bad breath.  Even some of the “odorless” garlic pills still can have this.  

Will I recommend garlic to my patients?  Probably so.  This study has some very interesting results and is consistent with others prior to it.   

Will I take the garlic supplement myself?  Likely, as we all add plaque to our arteries as we age and my family clearly has a history of it.  

The problem for me will be the subtle sound of my grandfather’s laughter every time I open the bottle of garlic pills.  He never let me forget it.  

Eric J. Littleton, M.D. (@DrEricLittleton) is a Family Physician in Sevierville, TN.  His office is in the UT Regional Health Center Sevierville at 1130 Middle Creek Road. Topics covered are general in nature and should not be used to change medical treatments and/or plans without first discussing with your physician. Send questions to askdrlittleton@gmail.com