Garlic pills do n't lower cholesterol , study finds . [START_ENT] LONDON [END_ENT] 1996-08-22  Garlic pills may not lower blood cholesterol and studies that show they do may be flawed , British researchers have reported .  A study by a team of doctors at Oxford University has found people with high blood cholesterol do not benefit significantly from taking garlic tablets .  The study involved 115 people with high blood cholesterol levels .  They were given 900 milligrams a day of dried garlic powder or placebo tablets . "  There were no significant differences between the groups receiving garlic and placebo , " they wrote in the Journal of the Royal College of Physicians .  Those taking part were told to eat a low-fat diet for six weeks before they started taking the pills , and their blood cholesterol measured before and after the six-week period .  The researchers said this would make their findings more accurate .  Several studies have found garlic pills can lower blood pressure and blood cholesterol .  But the Oxford team disputed these findings and said either previous trials may have been interpreted incorrectly , those taking part were not given special diets beforehand or the duration of the studies may have been too short .  The six-month trial was funded by the British Heart Foundation and Lichtwer Pharma GmbH , which makes Kwai brand garlic tablets .  The study did not address whether whole garlic could affect cholesterol .  -- London Newsroom +44 171 542 7950
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