ABSTRACT
Objective: Several natural supplementations have been investigated over centuries for a wide variety of ailments. There is limited information available on the effect and safety of these natural supplementations on patients with high risk coronary artery disease. We aim to evaluate the results of garlic and lemon therapy via clinical and angiographic outcomes in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction.
Methods: Patients who had >70% non-culprit coronary stenosis were included in the study. Patients who underwent optimal medical therapy were randomized to the treatment. At the end of the follow-up, patients were evaluated in terms of clinical and angiographic outcomes.
Results: Of the 77 subjects enrolled in the study, fifty-eight patients (28 from the treatment group and 30 from the control group) completed the study period successfully. During the follow-up period, the need for early revascularization appeared later in the treatment group as compared to the control group. According to the Rose angina survey, the rates of definite angina, and probable angina were lower in the treatment group compared to the control group. The mean stenosis, in the treatment group, at the baseline and that in the 3rd month was 49.32±20.45 and 48.48±20.64, respectively (p = 0.168); whereas, in the control group, it was 49.93±22.71 and 49.14±22.63, respectively (p = 0.116).
Conclusion: Based on the present study, no significant change was observed in atherosclerotic plaques at the end of the three-month treatment period, although it resulted in symptomatic benefits. However, the absence of serious adverse events within the 3-month period is important as it suggests the safety of the treatment.
Manuscripts that are Published Ahead of Print have been peer reviewed and accepted for publication by the Editorial Board of the West Indian Medical Journal. They may appear in their original format and may not be copy edited or formatted in the style guide of this Journal. While accepted manuscripts are not yet assigned a volume, issue or page numbers, they can be cited using the DOI and date of e-publication. See our Instructions for Authors on how to properly cite manuscripts at this stage. The contents of the manuscript may change before it is published in its final form. Manuscripts in this section will be removed once they have been issued to a volume and issue, but will still retain the DOI and date of e-publication.