Garlic is well known for its ability to lower blood pressure (19) as well as reduce the oxidative stress inherent in those with hypertension. However, this tasty little herb contains hundreds of phytochemicals, flavonoids, and various sulphur-related compounds that offer the health-conscious individual a host of diverse benefits.

One of its flavonoids, diallyldisulfide, has been demonstrated to cause an increase in luteinizing hormone(LH) (1). LH is released from the anterior pituitary gland where it travels to the testis to initiate the process of testosterone production. A recent study connecting garlic with LH levels utilized rats placed on a high-protein diet with either .8 grams of garlic per 100 gram of protein or a high-protein diet only. Researchers discovered an enhanced excretion of 17-ketosteroids in the garlic group. This is indicative of enhanced metabolic clearance – and thus presence – of testosterone. In addition, corticosterone levels (think cortisol) were greatly reduced. Implications for the natural bodybuilder are obvious. 6-oxo, avena sativa, 1,4-androstadiene - 3,6,17-dione are common legal means utilized to increase T production. Now we have a much cheaper and tastier option to add to the list.

The reduction or glucocorticoids would benefit those prone to visceral or central obesity and the other ramifications of metabolic syndrome, of which excessive cortisol production is a primary contributor (12). Cortisol also has a proteolytic capacity in skeletal muscle tissue, so the actives in garlic might play a role in preventing muscle loss and/or maintaining gains during the post-cycle period, when cortisol levels can be out of balance with testosterone.

Through the 5-alpha reductase enzyme, testosterone is converted to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). In the prostate gland, elevated DHT can be problematic as it increases susceptibility to prostate hypertrophy, decreased urine volume, and possibly, cancer (15). The good news is that while garlic can increase T levels, the diallydisulfide it contains induces apotosis in prostate cancer cell lines (2) and acts as a chemoprotective agent in the prostate (13).

Apparently, diallydisulfide slows the cancer cell line proliferation, or the increase in the number of cancer cells, by apoptosis, or programmed cell death (2,6,14)

Supplementation with stimulants such as ephedrine or clenbuterol are effective in enhancing lipolysis in fat cells via the stimulation of the G-protein receptor. A hormonal cascade ensues resulting in the eventual breakdown of trigylercides to fatty acids, which can then be oxidized. While generally safe when used as directed, uncomfortably high blood pressure and heart rate elevations can occur (18)

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Garlic, while not nearly as potent as these sympathomimetic agents, provides a modest fat burning effect mainly through enhancing uncoupling protein activity, while actually lowering systolic blood pressure (19). Uncoupling Protein-1(UCP-1) is expressed in mitochondria of brown adipose tissue (BAT). It functions to uncouple the process of oxidative phosphorylation away from useful energy production in favor of the dissipation of heat. The mitochondria, in turn, speeds up the degradation of foodstuffs in an attempt to match the need for ATP synthesis for said energy production. In essence, the catabolism of foods – and thus calories – is accelerated when UCP-1 is activated. Garlic consumption can lead to an elevated expression of UCP-1 in mitochondria of BAT and potentiate thermogenic processes (5).

Its potential for reducing bodyfat is further supported in that garlic can decrease fatty acid synthase (FAS) expression. FAS is involved in several facets of triglyceride physiology including the conversion of acetyl-CoA to malonyl-CoA, which happens to be the first committed step in lipid synthesis. Upon exposure of rat liver cells to several cysteine compounds contained in garlic, expression of FAS was reduced by nearly one-third relative to placebo (7). Lipolytic activity, in general, is positively affected by garlic intake, which seems to parallel its ability to lower both cholesterol and low-density lipoproteins levels (8,9).