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# This humble spice garlic helps hypertension in diabetes patients
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/garlic_fights_diabetic_hypertension_0419121031/
- Published: 2012-04-19T23:30:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-22T15:46:25.000Z
- Description: Indian researchers gave rats with drug-induced diabetic hypertension 8 mg/kg of allicin, garlic's active compound, for up to eight weeks and reported both antidiabetic and antihypertensive effects, which they attribute to selective opening of SUR2 channels.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Food, Nutrition, #vivvo-import

By David Liu, PHD

Thursday April 19, 2012 (foodconsumer.org) -- Indian scientists have confirmed that taking garlic supplements may help prevent hypertension in diabetes patients or diabetic hypertension, according to a new study in the April 12, 2012 issue of Revista Brasileira de Farmacognosia.

The study led by Harikesh Dubey and colleagues of Raj Kumar Goel Institute of Technology in India showed diabetic rats given 8 mg of allicin /kg experienced a potent antidiabetic as well as antihypertensive effect.

Allicin is the bioactive ingredient found in garlic. It can be purchased online as dietary supplements. It is well known that Allicin can lower high blood pressure. Allicin can lead to the production of endogenous hydrogen sulfide, which is known to help relax vessels making blood flow easier. 

For the current study, the researchers intraperitoneally injected an antibiotic called streptosotocin (50 mg per kg) followed by daily administration of dexamethasone to induce diabetic hypertension in rats. And the rats were fed allicin for up to weight weeks.

The researchers wrote " It may act as a vasodilator by hyperpolarizing the membrane of normal vascular smooth muscle cells. The hyperpolarization in vascular smooth muscle occurs due to K+ channel opener activity. Antihypertensive effect of allicin is inhibited by glibenclamide, nonselective SUR blocker while combination of allicin with nateglinide, selective SUR1 blocker exerted synergistic antihypertensive effect."

They concluded "The results indicates that allicin is effective in the treatment of diabetic hypertension; through a mechanism that might involve selective opening of SUR2."

Both diabetes and hypertension are common among the American population. An estimated 25 million Americans are believed to live with type 2 diabetes, which has no cure but be can managed by conventional doctors.

Many things food consumers can do to reduce their risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus and high blood pressure.

Using coconut water, raw nuts, reduced intake of salt, yoga exercises, watermelon, eating blueberries, chocolate, beets, oats, and levender, celery juice, high vitamin D levels, dietary potassium, garlic, yellow pea protein, and beetroot juice. 

Avoiding sugar-sweetened drinks, painkillers, prenatal pesticide exposure, stress, and chronic dehydration can also help prevent high blood pressure.

Keywords: Allicin, diabetes, hypertension, diabetic hypertension, hyperpolarizing, antibiotic streptozotocin, sulfonylurea receptor, vasodilator.