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Best Garlic Supplement 2024: Top 5 Pills For High Blood Pressure
Updated on
- Written by Lindsey Desoto, RDN, LD
Medically reviewed by
Melissa Mitri, MS, RD
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Life Extension Optimized Garlic
- One-year money-back guarantee
- Third-party tested
- Contains clinically researched amounts of garlic
Puritan’s Pride Odorless Garlic Extract 1000mg
- Made in the USA
- Clinically effective doses
- Personalized vitamin packs available
BRI Nutrition Odorless Garlic
- Made in the USA
- Third-party tested
- Odorless
Garlic (Allium sativum) has been used for medicinal and culinary purposes for years. In addition to adding depth and richness to various cuisines, studies suggest garlic can improve cholesterol levels, reduce high blood pressure, and more.
Garlic can be consumed in its raw state or as a dietary supplement. Garlic supplements are an excellent alternative for those who want to avoid eating raw garlic. Supplemental garlic is usually derived from garlic powder, oil, or aged garlic extract.
Because there are so many different types of garlic supplements to choose from, it can be tricky to decide which product is most beneficial.
In this article, we’ve rounded up our top picks for the best garlic pills on the market to help you choose.
Best Garlic Supplements In (April. 2024)
- Life Extension Optimized Garlic – Editor’s Choice
- Puritan’s Pride Odorless Garlic Extract 1000mg – Best Odorless
- BRI Nutrition Odorless Garlic – Best Quality
- NOW Odorless Garlic – Best Natural
- NutraChamps Odorless Garlic – Best for Immunity
Are Garlic Supplements Good For You?
Garlic has been used since ancient times for its health-promoting and disease-preventing properties. Most of garlic’s health benefits are due to its sulfur compounds, primarily allicin.
Allicin is a compound that only remains stable for a short time after raw garlic has been crushed or chopped. Although research over the years has been conflicting, newer studies[1] suggest that allicin found in garlic powder supplements can be absorbed by your body as efficiently as crushed raw garlic.
This should come as good news, especially for those who wish to avoid the pungent, spicy taste of raw garlic but want to enjoy the health benefits.
The strongest research[2] to date supports garlic’s ability to lower total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. LDL cholesterol is considered the “bad cholesterol” because high levels in your blood increase your risk of heart attack or stroke.
It may take as long as eight weeks[2] to use a garlic supplement to see lower cholesterol levels consistently.
Although additional studies are still needed, garlic may also be able to reduce the risk of other chronic diseases, thanks to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
According to one recent 2020 review published in the journal Antioxidants[3], garlic may help:
- Reduce blood pressure
- Protect against cardiovascular disease
- Improve blood sugar
- Protect against bacterial infections
- Lower inflammation
- Support a healthy immune system
5 Best Garlic Supplements For High Blood Pressure In 2024
Life Extension Optimized Garlic
Life Extension Optimized Garlic is a high-quality, vegetarian garlic capsule that contains allicin, one of the main health-promoting components of non-aged garlic.
- One-year money-back guarantee
- Third-party tested
- Vegetarian
- Includes “allicin potential”
- Large doses may cause a mild garlic odor
Life Extension is one of the longest-standing dietary supplement brands on the market. All of their products are based on scientific research and formulated using dosages found to be effective in clinical studies.
The company was rated the #1 Catalog/Internet Brand for best vitamins and dietary supplements, according to the 2022 survey of supplement users by ConsumerLab.
This supplement is not organic. However, it is vegetarian, free of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and gluten-free.
Each two-capsule serving contains 1200 milligrams of garlic bulb extract or the equivalent of 1-2 fresh whole garlic cloves. The recommended dosage is one serving one to four times per day. These amounts fall in line with those typically used in clinical studies[3].
This supplement contains alliin, a chemical in fresh garlic that converts to allicin when it is chopped or crushed. Life Extension tests for the “allicin potential,” which represents the allicin yield of the supplement after consumption.
The company utilizes third-party testing to analyze products for quality, potency, and purity. Products also have a Certificate of Analysis (COA) that displays testing results.
Each bottle contains 200 capsules and sells for $18.75.
Puritan’s Pride Odorless Garlic Extract 1000mg
Puritan’s Pride Odorless Garlic Extract comes in a rapid-release soft gel. Two different potencies are available to accommodate a variety of needs.
- Personalized vitamin packs are available
- Different strengths available
- Clinically effective doses
- Made in the USA
- Not vegan-friendly
- Not third-party tested
Puritan’s Pride is a well-known company that offers a large selection of high-quality dietary supplements. You can buy their garlic supplements separately or take a quiz to receive personalized supplement recommendations.
Each rapid-release soft gel contains 1,000 milligrams of odorless garlic. The company recommends taking one soft gel up to four times daily. If you prefer to start with a lower dose, 500-milligram capsules are also available.
This product contains gelatin, so it is not vegan-friendly. It also contains soy, making it inappropriate for those who have a soy allergy or simply choose to avoid soy products.
Returns are accepted within 90 days of purchase. Although it appears a third party does not test this product, the company claims that all supplements are tested multiple times throughout the manufacturing process.
Each bottle contains 250 soft gels and sells for $25.49. If you buy one bottle, you get one free.
BRI Nutrition Odorless Garlic
BRI Nutrition Odorless Garlic contains parsley and chlorophyll, which may help mask the foul-smelling compounds in garlic.
- Third-party tested
- Sourced from GMP Certified Manufacturer
- Made in the United States
- Not vegan-friendly
BRI Nutrition Odorless Garlic is formulated with odorless garlic extract as well as antioxidant-rich parsley and chlorophyll.
The manufacturer’s recommended serving of two soft gels provides:
- 1,000 milligrams of odorless garlic
- 200 milligrams of parsley
- 56 micrograms of chlorophyll
According to Oregon State University, the dose of most chlorophyll supplements contains between 100-300 milligrams per day, which is much higher than the amount found in this product. This suggests it is likely not in sufficient amounts to provide health benefits.
Parsley has a fresh scent and high amounts of chlorophyll. It is an old remedy to help eliminate garlic breath and neutralize the odor. Older studies[4] suggest it can act as a deodorizer, combatting the foul-smelling sulfur compounds in garlic.
Although BRI Nutrition Odorless Garlic is marketed as vegan-friendly, it contains bovine-sourced gelatin, which is derived from cattle. It also contains soy, which makes it off-limits for individuals with a soy allergy.
BRI Nutrition follows the FDA’s Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) standards, which should ensure your product is labeled and packaged appropriately.
Each bottle contains 120 soft gels and costs $8.99. If you are unsatisfied with this product, the company offers a 60-day, no questions asked, money-back guarantee.
NOW Odorless Garlic
NOW Odorless Garlic is sourced from whole clove garlic and is free of major allergens.
- Odorless
- Two sizes available
- Sourced from whole clove garlic
- Made in a GMP facility
- Not vegan-friendly
- Limited return policy
NOW Odorless Garlic has been deodorized to ensure no foul smell is present. Each serving (two soft gels) contains 50 milligrams of odorless garlic concentrate (Allium sativum) extracted from whole clove garlic.
This product is manufactured in the United States in a certified GMP facility. It is free of yeast, wheat, gluten, egg, fish, and shellfish.
This supplement does not appear to be third-party tested. However, NOW is said to utilize state-of-the-art, in-house laboratories to test raw ingredients and products to ensure what is on the label is in the bottle.
You can choose from a bottle of 100 or 250 soft gels. A bottle of 100 soft gels costs $9.99 and a bottle of 250 soft gels costs $21.99. According to NOW, users should take two soft gels one to two times per day.
New, unused products can be returned within 30 days of purchase for a full refund.
NutraChamps Odorless Garlic
NutraChamps Odorless Garlic is a premium 5-in-1 supplement that contains a blend of pure garlic oil, flaxseed oil, aged black garlic, parsley seed, and chlorophyll. It is one of the best garlic supplements for the immune system.
- Made in the USA
- Includes aged garlic extract
- One-year money-back guarantee
- Supports a healthy immune function
- Lacks third-party testing
This supplement contains 10 milligrams of odorless garlic oil, which is equivalent to 1,000 milligrams of fresh garlic bulb.
It also includes 10 milligrams of aged black garlic. Aged black garlic[5] is a type of heat-treated garlic made by keeping raw garlic in a humidity and temperature-controlled environment for several days. During aging, unstable compounds of raw garlic, such as alliin, are converted into stable compounds, including s-allyl cysteine[6] (SAC), which has a strong antioxidant effect.
One 2018 study[7] gave participants with heart disease 20 grams of black garlic extract every day for six months. At the end of the study, those who took the aged garlic extract experienced improvements in indicators of heart health and antioxidant levels compared to those in the placebo group.
Other research[8] suggests that aged garlic extract can help support immune cell function and reduce the severity of colds.
This odorless supplement is free of GMOs, sugar, and gluten. It does contain gelatin, which makes it off-limits for vegans.
NutraChamps is also a proud supporter of Vitamin Angels, a nonprofit organization that provides vitamin supplements to pregnant women, children, and new mothers at risk for malnutrition.
A bottle of 120 garlic soft gels costs $9.95.
How To Choose The Best Organic Garlic Supplements?
Here are several things to keep in mind when purchasing garlic supplements.
Ingredients
One of the first things you’ll want to do before buying a garlic dietary supplement is carefully read the supplement label.
Some products contain additional health-boosting compounds that may add value to the product. If you are unsure of an ingredient, always do your research to familiarize yourself with it.
Try to choose a supplement with limited artificial ingredients, fillers, and additives to keep it as natural as possible.
Additionally, it’s essential to know what ingredients are in your product of choice to avoid potential reactions to allergens or medications you are taking.
Also, if you follow a vegan diet, it is important to choose vegan multivitamins and supplements that are marketed as such. It’s also a good idea to double-check the ingredient label to ensure no animal derivatives are present.
Type Of Garlic
Garlic supplements come in various forms. It ultimately boils down to personal preference when deciding if you want to choose garlic soft gels, capsules, or tablets.
Most garlic supplements come in rapid-release soft gels that are easy to swallow and get into your system faster. Some supplements also contain parsley, which may help mask garlic odor.
Different types, including oil, powder, and aged garlic, can all provide health benefits.
Quality
When selecting a garlic supplement, consider opting for a brand that utilizes third-party testing to ensure what is on the label is actually inside the supplement.
Although many supplements claim to be tested by a third party, very few actually carry a third-party certification seal.
Additionally, choose products sold by a trustworthy brand that manufactures products in compliance with cGMP enforced by the FDA.
Price
Just because a supplement costs more does not mean it is more effective. It’s always important to keep your budget in mind and select an affordable yet high-quality product. While you do not want a supplement to break the bank, you also don’t want to end up with a garlic supplement that leaves an awful taste in your mouth.
Potential Side Effects
Garlic supplements are generally well-tolerated by most healthy individuals. If taken in large quantities, they may cause the following side effects[2]:
- Bad breath
- Body odor
- Indigestion
- Upset stomach
These side effects, however, are more likely to occur with raw garlic consumption. Most odorless garlic supplements will not cause bad breath or body odor.
Who Should NOT Take Garlic Supplements?
The safety of garlic supplements in pregnant or breastfeeding women has not been confirmed. As such, these individuals may want to avoid supplementation unless otherwise recommended by their healthcare provider.
Additionally, garlic supplements may interact with certain medications[2]. For example, they may interfere with the effectiveness of saquinavir, a medication used to treat human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV).
Garlic supplements may also increase a person’s risk of bleeding. If you are taking blood thinners such as Coumadin or warfarin, or if you need to have surgery, talk to your healthcare provider before taking garlic capsules.
People who
Final Thought
Garlic is rich in good-for-you compounds that can promote cardiovascular health and support a healthy immune system. Most garlic supplements available today are odorless, allowing you to reap the benefits of pure garlic without the bad aftertaste.
Garlic supplements are safe for most healthy individuals. However, people taking blood thinners, pregnant, or nursing should avoid taking garlic supplements unless their healthcare provider approves.
Frequently Asked Questions
Although we need more solid studies, garlic pills contain potent antioxidants and other beneficial compounds that may support the heart and circulatory system by supporting healthy cholesterol levels and blood pressure. Some research suggests garlic may also support a healthy immune system.
Yes. Studies suggest garlic pills can deliver the health-promoting compounds in garlic in a form that the body can easily use. Additionally, one would have to eat a lot of garlic cloves daily to equal the amount found in most supplements.
A popular choice for garlic supplements is Life Extension Optimized Garlic because it is high quality and has a measurable amount of allicin potential, a health-promoting compound found in non-aged garlic.
Yes. In order to reap the benefits of garlic supplements, capsules should be taken every day unless otherwise recommended by your doctor.
There is no standard dose for garlic supplements. Most manufacturers recommend taking anywhere from one to two pills up to three times daily. For exact dosing, speak with your doctor.
At this time, we do not have solid evidence to suggest that one form is superior to the other. However, studies do show that aged garlic has higher amounts of antioxidants.
Any of the high-quality garlic supplements discussed in this article may aid in supporting healthy cholesterol levels.
+ 8 sources
Health Canal avoids using tertiary references. We have strict sourcing guidelines and rely on peer-reviewed studies, academic researches from medical associations and institutions. To ensure the accuracy of articles in Health Canal, you can read more about the editorial process here
- Lawson, L. and Hunsaker, S. (2018). Allicin Bioavailability and Bioequivalence from Garlic Supplements and Garlic Foods. Nutrients, [online] 10(7), p.812. doi:10.3390/nu10070812.
- NCCIH. (2020). Garlic. [online] Available at: https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/garlic
- Ansary, J., Forbes-Hernández, T.Y., Gil, E., Cianciosi, D., Zhang, J., Elexpuru-Zabaleta, M., Simal-Gandara, J., Giampieri, F. and Battino, M. (2020). Potential Health Benefit of Garlic Based on Human Intervention Studies: A Brief Overview. Antioxidants, [online] 9(7), p.619. doi:10.3390/antiox9070619.
- Negishi, O., Negishi, Y. and Ozawa, T. (2002). Effects of Food Materials on Removal of Allium-Specific Volatile Sulfur Compounds. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, [online] 50(13), pp.3856–3861. doi:10.1021/jf020038q.
- Toledano-Medina, M.A., Pérez-Aparicio, J., Moreno-Rojas, R. and Merinas-Amo, T. (2016). Evolution of some physicochemical and antioxidant properties of black garlic whole bulbs and peeled cloves. Food Chemistry, [online] 199, pp.135–139. doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2015.11.128.
- Colín-González, A.L., Santana, R.A., Silva-Islas, C.A., Chánez-Cárdenas, M.E., Santamaría, A. and Maldonado, P.D. (2012). The Antioxidant Mechanisms Underlying the Aged Garlic Extract- and S-Allylcysteine-Induced Protection. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, [online] 2012, pp.1–16. doi:10.1155/2012/907162.
- Liu, J., Zhang, G., Cong, X. and Cui, W. (2018). Black Garlic Improves Heart Function in Patients With Coronary Heart Disease by Improving Circulating Antioxidant Levels. Frontiers in Physiology, [online] 9. doi:https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2018.01435.
- Percival, S.S. (2016). Aged Garlic Extract Modifies Human Immunity. The Journal of Nutrition, [online] 146(2), pp.433S436S. doi:10.3945/jn.115.210427.
Written by:
Lindsey Desoto, RDN, LD
Medically reviewed by:
Medically reviewed by:
