News and Document archive source
copyrighted material disclaimer at bottom of page

NewsMinenature-healthhealth — Viewing Item


Cholesterol inhibitors in garlic identified

Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)
   http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/1998/11/981118080757.htm

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/1998/11/981118080757.htm

Source: Penn State
Date:
1998-11-18

Cholesterol Inhibitors In Garlic Identified
University Park, Pa. --- Penn State nutrition researchers have identified a group of chemicals in garlic that decreases cholesterol production by liver cells 40 to 60 percent in laboratory tests.

The study is among the first to pinpoint the specific garlic constituents that may be responsible for the cholesterol-lowering effects observed by researchers earlier in both animal and human feeding studies.

Dr. Yu-Yan Yeh, Penn State professor of nutrition, presented the findings today (Nov. 16) at a conference on "Recent Advances on the Nutritional Benefits Accompanying the Use of Garlic as a Supplement" at the Marriott Newport Center, Newport Beach, Calif.

The conference is a continuing and distance education service of the Penn State College of Health and Human Development Department of Nutrition in cooperation with Wakunaga of America Co. Ltd. The conference is supported by Wakunaga, National Cancer Institute and Rexall-Sundown, Inc.

Yeh's paper, "Allyl Sulfur Compounds of Garlic Inhibit Cholesterol Biosynthesis," was one of six offered in the session on Cardiovascular Benefits of Garlic. His co-author is Lijuan Liu, a doctoral candidate in nutrition at Penn State.

Yeh and Liu identified a group of three water soluble, sulfur-containing, garlic constituents (S-allyl cysteine, S-ethyl-cysteine and S-propyl cysteine) that decreased cholesterol production in cultured rat liver cells by 40 to 60 percent.

The Penn State scientist noted that he used fresh garlic extracts in his recent studies. Deodorized aged garlic extract consists mostly of the same water soluble, sulfur-containing chemicals, he said.

In Yeh's earlier feeding studies with rats, aged garlic extract reduced blood cholesterol by 15 percent. In the human studies, 34 men who took deodorized garlic capsules for five months showed a 7 percent drop in total blood cholesterol levels and a 12 percent drop in LDL or so-called "bad cholesterol" levels. High blood levels of total cholesterol and "bad cholesterol" have both been associated with artery and heart disease.

In the current liver cell studies, Yeh and Liu also identified a second group of water-soluble compounds, (glutamate derivatives of S-alk(en)yl cysteines) that depressed cholesterol synthesis by 20 to 35 percent. A third group of water soluble chemicals had no inhibitory effect. A group of fat-soluble, sulfur-containing, garlic constituents depressed cholesterol synthesis only slightly (10 to 15 percent) at low concentrations and, at high concentrations, killed the cells. None of the water-soluble chemicals killed the cells.

"Our current results indicate that the cholesterol-lowering effects of garlic are likely to be from inhibition of cholesterol synthesis in the liver by a combination of the water-soluble, sulfur-containing compounds," Yeh said. "It's not likely that the fat-soluble, sulfur-containing compounds play a major role."

He plans to conduct further research in order to try to identify the specific ways in which the water soluble garlic constitutents he identified interfere with the liver's synthesis of cholesterol.

The results of Yeh's rat feeding studies, conducted in 1994, were published in the journal Lipids, Vol., 29, no. 3. The human studies, conducted in 1997, were published in Food Factors for Cancer Prevention, EDS, Ohigash, H., Osawa, T., Terao, J., Watanabe, S. and Toshikawa, T., Springer, Tokyo, pp. 226-230, 1997.

The current liver cell studies were supported in part by grants from Wakanaga of America Co., Ltd.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This story has been adapted from a news release issued by Penn State.



antibiotics
babies
cancer
cellphones
colawars
diet
drugs
obesity
smoking
toxins
1 in 3 americans have high blood pressure
1 in 3 kids 00 develop diabetes { June 15 2003 }
12 dangerous dietary supplements
Acupuncture helps arthritic knees
Alzheimers cases top 13m by 2050 { August 19 2003 }
Americans searching for pain relief { May 9 2005 }
Americans sicker than brits with more on health care { May 3 2006 }
Americans want universal health care
Antidepressants linked suicides { October 27 2003 }
Antioxidant rich foods preserve vision
Avoid drugs for migraine relief { May 4 2006 }
Beef business creates anti vegan study { February 21 2005 }
Black health worst condition { October 12 2003 }
Bran diet lowers risk of heart disease
Breastfeeding fights arthritis
Breastfeeding fights diabetes in mother
Britain leads the world in anti depressants
Britiain US worst western nations for children
Burger king down
Carpal tunnel from mouse not keyboard { June 17 2003 }
Chlorine in pools damages lungs
Cholesterol drugs not having effect
Cholesterol inhibitors in garlic identified
Chopsticks can be harmful
Dangerous dietary supplements { April 7 2004 }
Dark chocolate aids blood flow { August 29 2004 }
Dark chocolate health benefits { June 1 2004 }
Depression pills { May 7 2002 }
Doctors calls for national health insurance { August 12 2003 }
Doctors rally around universal health care
Drinking can shrink the brain { December 8 2003 }
Excercise generates new stem cells and vessels { September 5 2007 }
Exercise helps elderly mental sharpness
Exercise helps the brain work better
Facts on soy { April 13 2004 }
Faster aging with obesity and smoking { June 15 2005 }
Fats not increase stroke risk { October 3 2003 }
Federal warning on tuna mercury danger { December 11 2003 }
Fiber benefit found { May 2 2003 }
Floride linked low iq { August 25 2003 }
Garlic study may give herb a boost
German doctor cures aids with garlic and olive oil { November 29 2005 }
Girls meat milk dioxin warning
Green tea may prevent hiv { November 10 2003 }
Headphones use causes hearing loss
Heavy lifting protects heart
Heavy social drinkers show brain damage
High blood pressure up { July 9 2003 }
High lead found in boston water { April 28 2004 }
Hormone treated beef is dangerous to human health { October 16 2003 }
Hospital tries to remove mcdonalds from premises
Indians heart attack
Irradiated meat
Lead scare prompts EPA review of rules { July 23 2004 }
Loud music can damage lungs
Mcdonalds closes 175 { November 8 2002 }
Mcdonalds fries contain potential allergens
Mcdonalds lawsuit dismissed { January 22 2003 }
Mcdonalds lied again about its french fries
Mcdonalds meat fries { May 24 2001 }
Mcdonalds trans acids
Medical injuries kill 32000 annually
Milk and redmeat inflamation { September 29 2003 }
More evidence vegetarian diet may stop cancer
Ms vd
Neurologist helps people understand migraine triggers { April 27 2006 }
New study says slouching is better sitting
Nine heart risk factors { August 30 2004 }
Pills no proven to provide benefits from vegetables
Prozac may stunt growing bones
Salmon dye must be labeled { May 2 2003 }
Salmonella [pdf]
Sanitation is greatest medical milestone { January 18 2007 }
Seeds of dementia sown in midlife health diet lifestyle
Soy best for lowering cholesterol
Soy thyroid function
Stress can cause common cold or cancer
Study links drinking brain tissue loss
Supplements work
Survey finds millions new drug abusers
Sushi tuna found to have dangerous mercury levels { January 23 2008 }
Toddlers tv watching linked to attention deficit { April 5 2004 }
Tomato juice may stave off heart troubles { August 22 2004 }
Toxic mercury in environment causing autism { March 17 2005 }
Trans fats worse saturated fats { July 9 2003 }
Uncooked foods healthier { July 17 2000 }
Us health care spending surges again { January 9 2004 }
Vegan sues mcdonalds over french fries again { February 17 2006 }
Vitamins and calcium help pms symptons { June 17 2005 }
Watching TV causes hormone imbalance { June 28 2004 }
Wifi may endanger childrens health { April 22 2007 }

Files Listed: 91



Correction/submissions

CIA FOIA Archive

National Security
Archives
Support one-state solution for Israel and Palestine Tea Party bumper stickers JFK for Dummies, The Assassination made simple