Effect of garlic powder supplementation on blood pressure and hs‐C‐reactive protein among nonalcoholic fatty liver disease patients: A randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial

Based on the anti‐inflammatory and antihypertensive properties of garlic, the current study was designed to evaluate the garlic powder effects on blood pressure and high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hs‐CRP) among Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease patients (NAFLD). This randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial study was conducted on 110 patients with NAFLD. The patients were randomly divided into 2 groups, receiving two tablets of either 400 mg garlic or placebo daily for 15 weeks. At baseline and the end of the study, blood pressure and hs‐CRP were determined. Of 110 patients enrolled in the trial, 98 subjects were included in the final analysis. After the intervention, systolic blood pressures (SBP) (mean: −7.89; 95%CI:‒11.39 to −4.39 mm Hg), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (mean: −5.38; 95%CI: −7.77 to −3 mm Hg), and Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP) (mean: −6:95%CI: −8.4 to −3.6 mm Hg) decreased significantly in the garlic group as compared to the placebo group. Also, the percentage of reduced hs‐CRP was significantly higher in the intervention group compared with the control group (mean: −16.1; 95%CI: −32.7 to −0.53; p = .035). Moreover, a positive correlation was observed between the percentage change in hs‐CRP and percentage changes in SBP (r = 0.221; p = .029), DBP (r = 0.166; p = .012), and MAP (r = 0.210; p = .038). Garlic supplementation can be a safe and potentially adjunct treatment to reduce blood pressure and the risk of cardiovascular disorders in patients with NAFLD.