January 24, 2022
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Effects of an Optimized Aged Garlic Extract on Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Moderate Hypercholesterolemic Subjects: A Randomized, Crossover, Double-Blind, Sustainedand Controlled Study

Publicated to:Nutrients. 14 (3): 405- - 2022-02-01 14(3), DOI: 10.3390/nu14030405

Authors: Valls, Rosa M; Companys, Judit; Calderon-Perez, Lorena; Salamanca, Patricia; Pla-Paga, Laura; Sandoval-Ramirez, Berner Andree; Bueno, Antonio; Puzo, Jose; Crescenti, Anna; Bas, Josep M del; Caimari, Antoni; Salamanca, Aurora; Espinel, Alberto E; Pedret, Anna; Arola, Lluis; Sola, Rosa

Affiliations

Ctr Tecnol Catalunya, Eurecat, Biotechnol Area, Av Univ 1, Reus 43204, Spain - Author
Ctr Tecnol Catalunya, Eurecat, Unitat Nutr & Salut, Av Univ 1, Reus 43204, Spain - Author
Eurecat, Technology Centre of Catalonia - Author
Eurecat, Technology Centre of Catalonia , Universitat Rovira i Virgili - Author
Hosp San Jorge Huesca, Clin Anal & Biochem Serv, Lipid Unit, Huesca 22004, Spain - Author
Hosp Univ St Joan Reus, Internal Med Serv, Av Doctor Josep Laporte 2, Reus 43204, Spain - Author
Hospital San Jorge - Author
Pharmact Biotech Prod SL, C Faraday 7, Madrid 28049, Spain - Author
Pharmactive Biotech Products S.L. Parque Científico de Madrid - Author
Sant Joan de Reus University Hospital , Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Facultat de Medicina i Ciencies de la Salut - Author
Univ Rovira & Virgili, Dept Biochem & Biotechnol, Nutrigen Res Grp, Campus Sescelades, Tarragona 43007, Spain - Author
Univ Rovira & Virgili, Fac Med & Ciencies Salut, Funct Nutr Oxidat & Cardiovasc Dis Grp NFOCS Salu, C St Llorenc 21, Reus 43201, Spain - Author
Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Facultat de Medicina i Ciencies de la Salut - Author
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Abstract

The consumption of aged black garlic (ABG) has been related to improvements in several cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. However, the extent of the beneficial effects depends on the garlic aging process and the amount and type of chemical compounds accumulated. The main objective of this study was to assess the effect of daily intake of a well-characterized ABG extract with a standardized S-allyl-L-cysteine (SAC) yield in combination with dietary recommendations regarding CVD risk factors in individuals with moderate hypercholesterolemia. Sixty-seven hypercholesterolemic individuals with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels ≥115 mg/dL were randomized in a crossover, double-blind, sustained, and controlled intervention study. The participants consumed 250 mg (1.25 mg SAC)/tablet/day ABG or a placebo for 6 weeks, with 3 weeks of washout. Blood and pulse pressure and other CVD risk biomarkers were determined at the beginning and end of each intervention. At 6 weeks, ABG extract reduced diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (mean (95% CI) −5.85 (−10.5; −1.3) mm Hg) compared to the placebo, particularly in men with a DBP > 75 mm Hg. The consumption of an improved ABG extract with 1.25 mg of SAC decreased DBP, particularly in men with moderate hypercholesterolemia. The potential beneficial effects of ABG may contribute to obtaining an optimal DBP.

Keywords

adultsallium-sativumblood pressurecardiovascular disease risk factorhypercholesterolemiahypertensivesin-vitromechanismsmetaanalysispulse pressures-allyl-l-cysteineAgedAged garlic extractBlood pressureCardiovascular disease risk factorCardiovascular diseasesCross-over studiesGarlicHigh blood-pressureHumansHypercholesterolemiaMalePlant extractsPulse pressureRisk factorsS-allyl-l-cysteine

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal Nutrients due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency WoS (JCR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2022, it was in position 17/88, thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Nutrition & Dietetics.

From a relative perspective, and based on the normalized impact indicator calculated from World Citations provided by WoS (ESI, Clarivate), it yields a value for the citation normalization relative to the expected citation rate of: 1.67. This indicates that, compared to works in the same discipline and in the same year of publication, it ranks as a work cited above average. (source consulted: ESI Nov 14, 2024)

This information is reinforced by other indicators of the same type, which, although dynamic over time and dependent on the set of average global citations at the time of their calculation, consistently position the work at some point among the top 50% most cited in its field:

  • Weighted Average of Normalized Impact by the Scopus agency: 1.82 (source consulted: FECYT Feb 2024)
  • Field Citation Ratio (FCR) from Dimensions: 8.76 (source consulted: Dimensions Jul 2025)

Specifically, and according to different indexing agencies, this work has accumulated citations as of 2025-07-12, the following number of citations:

  • WoS: 18
  • Scopus: 22
  • Europe PMC: 12
  • Google Scholar: 14

Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2025-07-12:

  • The use, from an academic perspective evidenced by the Altmetric agency indicator referring to aggregations made by the personal bibliographic manager Mendeley, gives us a total of: 130.
  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 155 (PlumX).

With a more dissemination-oriented intent and targeting more general audiences, we can observe other more global scores such as:

  • The Total Score from Altmetric: 651.3.
  • The number of mentions on the social network X (formerly Twitter): 20 (Altmetric).
  • The number of mentions in news outlets: 85 (Altmetric).

It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is: