[Use of allicor to lower the risk of myocardial infarction].

The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of allicor (a long-action garlic-based preparation) on the risk of acute myocardial infarction (MI) and sudden death (SD) in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Fifty one CAD patients were included in this double-blind placebo-controlled study. The prognostic risk of MI and SD during ten following years was counted using Cox proportional hazards model based on the results of Munster study. Allicor administered for 12 months was demonstrated to reduce absolute ten-year risk of acute MI and SD 1.5 times in men and 1.3 times in women. The reduction in calculated risk parameters was associated with changes in blood plasma lipid profile, the most significant of which was reduction in the level of low density lipoprotein cholesterol (p < 0.05) by 32.9 mg/dl in men and 27.3 mg/dl in women. The results of this study demonstrate that allicor is effective for the reduction of multifactor MI and SD risk as a means of secondary CAD prophylaxis.

[Reduction of cardiovascular risk in primary prophylaxy of coronary heart disease].

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effects of Allicor, an Allium sativum (garlic) preparation with prolonged activity, on 10-year prognostic risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), acute myocardial infarction (MI) and sudden death in patients with elevated and high risk of CHD. 79 patients with elevated and high risk of CHD were included in a double blind randomized placebo-controlled study. They underwent multifactor evaluation of cardiovascular risk by algorithms based on the results of Framingham and Munster studies. Prolonged (12 months) administration of Allicor significantly reduced the multifactor risk, which was demonstrated by a 13.2% (p = 0.005) reduction of prognostic 10-year risk of CHD in men, and a 7.1% (p = 0.040) reduction of the same parameter in women. Prognostic 10-year risk of MI and sudden death in men was reduced by 26.1% (p = 0.025) and did not change significantly in women. In men the main factor of cardiovascular risk reduction was the decrease of cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein concentration by 23.5 +/- 6.6 mg/dl (p = 0.004), and in women - the increase of high-density lipoprotein level by 2.8 +/- 1.5 mg/dl (p = 0.040). The results of the study demonstrate that prolonged Allicor therapy can be applied to the large category of patients who are in need of atherosclerosis prevention.

[Allicor efficacy in lowering the risk of ischemic heart disease in primary prophylaxis].

AIM: To assess effects of allicor (a long-acting garlic drug) on the risk of ischemic heart disease (IHD) in primary prophylaxis of cardiovascular diseases. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A double blind placebo-controlled study investigated for a year changes in multifactorial risks of cardiovascular events or their complications in 167 patients with hyperlipidemia free of IHD. RESULTS: In men, intake of allicor for 12 months resulted in a 10.7% reduction of a 10-year absolute risk to develop IHD (p < 0.05) and decreased a 10-year absolute risk of acute myocardial infarction and sudden death by 22.7% (p < 0.05). In women, allicor prevented age-related cardiovascular risk (p < 0.05). Among lipid parameters, the greatest fall was observed for total cholesterol and LDLP cholesterol (p < 0.05) in men by 27.9 and 22.5 mg/dl, in women--by 11.4 and 10.8 mg/dl, respectively. CONCLUSION: Allicor is effective in reducing multifactorial risk of cardiovascular diseases.