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Garlic Extract Therapy in Children With Hypercholesterolemia

1998; American Medical Association; Volume: 152; Issue: 11 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1001/archpedi.152.11.1089

1538-3628

Brian W. McCrindle, Elizabeth Helden, William T. Conner,

Phytochemistry and biological activities of Ficus species

Objective To determine whether garlic extract therapy is efficacious and safe in children with hypercholesterolemia. Design Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Setting Specialized pediatric lipid disorders ambulatory clinic. Participants Thirty pediatric patients, aged 8 to 18 years, who had familial hyperlipidemia and a minimum fasting total cholesterol level greater than 4.8 mmol/L (>185 mg/dL). Intervention An 8-week course of a commercially available garlic extract (Kwai [Lichtwer Pharma, Berlin, Germany], 300 mg, 3 times a day) or an identical placebo. Main Outcome Measures Absolute and relative changes in fasting lipid profile parameters. Results The groups were equivalent at baseline and compliance was similar in the 2 groups ( P =.45). There was no significant relative attributable effect of garlic extract on fasting total cholesterol (+0.6% [95% confidence interval, −5.8% to +6.9%]) or low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (−0.5% [95% confidence interval, −8.7% to +7.6%]). The lower limits of the confidence intervals did not include −10%, the minimum relative attributable effect believed to be clinically important. Likewise, no significant effect was seen on the levels of high-density lipoprotein, triglycerides, apolipoprotein B-100, lipoprotein(a), fibrinogen, homocysteine, or blood pressure. There was a small effect on apolipoprotein A-I (+10.0% [95% confidence interval, +1.2% to +16.5%] P =.03). There were no differences in adverse effects between groups. Conclusion Garlic extract therapy has no significant effect on cardiovascular risk factors in pediatric patients with familial hyperlipidemia.