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. 2014 Nov 11;2014(11):CD006206.
doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD006206.pub4.

Garlic for the common cold

Elizabeth Lissiman  1 , Alice L Bhasale, Marc Cohen
Affiliations

Garlic for the common cold

Elizabeth Lissiman et al. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. .

Abstract

Background Garlic is alleged to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties that relieve the common cold, among other beneficial effects. There is widespread usage of garlic supplements. The common cold is associated with significant morbidity and economic consequences. On average, children have six to eight colds per year and adults have two to four.Objectives To determine whether garlic (Allium sativum) is effective for the prevention or treatment of the common cold, when compared to placebo, no treatment or other treatments.Search methods We searched CENTRAL (2014, Issue 7),OLDMEDLINE (1950 to 1965),MEDLINE (January 1966 to July week 5, 2014), EMBASE(1974 to August 2014) and AMED (1985 to August 2014).Selection criteria Randomised controlled trials of common cold prevention and treatment comparing garlic with placebo, no treatment or standard treatment.Data collection and analysis Two review authors independently reviewed and selected trials from searches, assessed and rated study quality and extracted relevant data.Main results In this updated review, we identified eight trials as potentially relevant from our searches. Again, only one trial met the inclusion criteria.This trial randomly assigned 146 participants to either a garlic supplement (with 180 mg of allicin content) or a placebo (once daily)for 12 weeks. The trial reported 24 occurrences of the common cold in the garlic intervention group compared with 65 in the placebo group (P value < 0.001), resulting in fewer days of illness in the garlic group compared with the placebo group (111 versus 366). The number of days to recovery from an occurrence of the common cold was similar in both groups (4.63 versus 5.63). Only one trial met the inclusion criteria, therefore limited conclusions can be drawn. The trial relied on self reported episodes of the common cold but was of reasonable quality in terms of randomisation and allocation concealment. Adverse effects included rash and odour. Authors' conclusions There is insufficient clinical trial evidence regarding the effects of garlic in preventing or treating the common cold. A single trial suggested that garlic may prevent occurrences of the common cold but more studies are needed to validate this finding. Claims of effectiveness appear to rely largely on poor-quality evidence.

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Conflict of interest statement

Elizabeth Lissiman: none known. Alice Bhasale: support was received for professional development to learn Cochrane methodology, but not to conduct this particular review. Marc Cohen: none known.

Figures

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1
'Risk of bias' graph: review authors' judgements about each risk of bias item presented as percentages across all included studies.
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'Risk of bias' summary: review authors' judgements about each risk of bias item for each included study.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Update of

References

References to studies included in this review

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References to other published versions of this review

Lissiman 2009
    1. Lissiman E, Bhasale AL, Cohen M. Garlic for the common cold. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2009, Issue 3. Art. No: CD006206. [DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD006206.pub2] - DOI - PubMed
Lissiman 2012
    1. Lissiman E, Bhasale AL, Cohen M. Garlic for the common cold. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2012, Issue 3. Art. No: CD006206. [DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD006206.pub3] - DOI - PubMed

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