Thursday Dec 12, 2013 (foodconsumer.org) -- A new review in Journal of Paramedical Sciences suggests that taking garlic supplements can help fight hypertension or lower blood pressure.

Marjan Mahdaviroshan from Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, Iran and colleagues conducted the review and confirmed that garlic supplementation lowers blood pressure.

High blood pressure or hypertension is one major risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.  And dietary intervention including taking dietary supplementation is one primary measure to lower blood pressure.

Garlic, a common dietary supplement, is known to be able to generate nitrous oxide which relax vessels leading to decreased blood pressure in both people with normal blood pressure and those with hypertension.  Garlic can be used raw or unprocessed.   But dietary supplements are also available.

According to the review, several clinical trials indicated that garlic lowered systolic and or diastolic blood pressure and helped control hypertension.  But not all trials show a beneficial effect.

The authors explain in their report that the blood pressure lowering activity of garlic has something to do with hydrogen sulfide garlic can produce and allicin derived from garlic.

Aged garlic extract is known to enhance the production of nitric oxide, which helps lower blood pressure.

Garlic is also a very important sulfur source and is known for its activity against infections and cancers.  Some people consider garlic number one cancer-fighting food. (David Liu, PHD)