The 7 Best Garlic Supplements in 2024
iStock
The products featured in this article have been independently reviewed. When you buy something through the retail links on this page, we may earn commission at no cost to you, the reader. Sports Illustrated editorial staff are not involved in the creation of this content. Learn more here.
Garlic is great for you—packed with compounds that may help support your immune system, your heart and your overall wellness. However, it’s got a pungent taste and smell. Garlic breath could be a deal-breaker that keeps you from embracing these flavor-packed bulbs in your everyday cooking routine.
Fortunately, garlic supplements can provide all of the benefits of garlic with none of the smells. These supplements contain garlic extracts that are rich in the compound allicin, which provides garlic with many of its health benefits.
Below, we’ve hand-picked the best garlic supplements of 2024 for blood pressure, cholesterol, immune support and more. In addition, you’ll find insights on choosing high-quality garlic supplements from dietitian Kelsey Kunik, R.D.N.
This content is meant to be informative, but should not be taken as medical advice. It is not intended for use as diagnosis, prevention or treatment of health problems. Always speak with your doctor before starting any new supplement or exercise regimen.
Our Top Picks for Best Garlic Supplements:
- Best Overall Garlic Supplement: Allimax Allicin Powder Capsules
- Best Garlic Supplement for High Blood Pressure: Puritan’s Pride Odorless Garlic
- Best Garlic Supplement for Cholesterol: Kyolic Aged Garlic Extract
- Best Garlic Supplement for Immune System: BRI Nutrition Odorless Garlic
- Best Enteric Coated Garlic Supplement: Nature’s Bounty Garlic Extract
- Best Garlic Extract Supplement: Nature’s Truth Odorless Garlic
- Best Garlic Oil Supplement: Sports Research Vegan Garlic Oil
Best Overall Garlic Supplement: Allimax Allicin Powder Capsules
Amazon
Key features & specs
- Garlic per serving: 450 milligrams (Allisure powder)
- Certifications: N/A
- Best for: People who prefer allicin over garlic; people looking to support their immune system
- Price per serving: $0.84
Allimax is a supplement made from allicin, a compound found in garlic that provides many of its health benefits. Unlike regular garlic supplements, Allimax is made with a purified allicin extract—meaning that it contains much higher doses of allicin. Although this allicin comes from garlic powder, it doesn’t have to be broken down and separated from other garlic compounds because it’s already been isolated.
Reviewers say the product has helped them with a variety of health concerns, but some say it also has a strong garlic odor and aftertaste. You can take one capsule of Allimax per day, at any time of day.
Related Post: The Best Vitamins and Supplements to Boost Your Immune System
What we like:
- Contains allicin
- Highly rated by customers
- Requires just one capsule per day
What to consider:
- May have a strong garlic aftertaste
Best Garlic Supplement for High Blood Pressure: Puritan’s Pride Odorless Garlic
Puritan’s Pride
Key features & specs
- Garlic per serving: 5 milligrams garlic extract (equal to 500 milligrams of fresh garlic)
- Certifications: N/A
- Best for: People looking for natural supplements for blood pressure management; people on a budget
- Price per serving: $0.04
Several studies have noted the powerful effect of garlic on blood pressure. In a 2015 review in Phytomedicine, researchers analyzed data from seven high-quality trials on blood pressure and garlic. They found that garlic significantly lowered blood pressure compared to a placebo, without any serious side effects.
This product from Puritan’s Pride contains five milligrams of garlic extract, which is equivalent to about half a gram of fresh garlic. It’s also formulated to be odorless if you’re worried about garlic affecting your body odor. It’s an easy way to include the blood pressure lowering benefits of garlic in your routine even if you’re not a fan of its taste or smell.
Reviewers say the capsules are easy to swallow and don’t cause garlic breath; however, it contains pro-inflammatory soybean oil as an added ingredient. You can take one softgel up to two to six times per day, and it’s best taken with meals.
What we like:
- High-dose garlic extract
- Inexpensive
- Doesn’t cause garlic breath
What to consider:
- Contains soybean oil
Best Garlic Supplement for Cholesterol: Kyolic Aged Garlic Extract
Kyolic
Key features & specs
- Garlic per serving: 600 milligrams aged garlic extract
- Certifications: Organic
- Best for: Consumers who prefer organic products; people who want to support their heart health
- Price per serving: $0.17
According to a 2016 study in Integrated Blood Pressure Control, aged garlic extract offers a number of heart health benefits. It may help promote healthy trends in cholesterol levels and other heart disease risk factors.
This Kyolic garlic supplement contains 600 milligrams of aged garlic extract per serving. According to the product packaging, it’s also organic and odorless. Reviewers say it doesn’t cause garlic breath, either. It’s also fairly inexpensive, but it does contain the filler magnesium stearate. According to Kyolic, you should take two or more capsules twice daily with food.
Related Post: The Best Diets for Heart Health
What we like:
- Inexpensive
- Odorless
- May offer heart health benefits
What to consider:
- Contains a magnesium filler
Best Garlic Supplement for Immune System: BRI Nutrition Odorless Garlic
BRI Nutrition
Key features & specs
- Garlic per serving: 1,000 milligrams odorless garlic extract
- Certifications: N/A
- Best for: People on a budget; people who want a product for immune support
- Price per serving: $0.19
Garlic may also be helpful for the immune system, with some studies noting garlic supplementation could help reduce the frequency and severity of colds.
This garlic supplement from BRI Nutrition also contains chlorophyll and parsley seed extract, both of which also possess immune-supporting properties.
The product is also inexpensive and highly rated by reviewers, although it contains soybean oil—which may promote inflammation. According to BRI Nutrition, you should take two softgels daily with a meal.
What we like:
- Inexpensive
- Highly rated by reviewers
- May support immune health
What to consider:
- Contains soybean oil
Best Enteric Coated Garlic Supplement: Nature’s Bounty Garlic Extract
Nature’s Bounty
Key features & specs
- Garlic per serving: 10 milligrams odorless garlic extract
- Certifications: N/A
- Best for: People on a budget; people who want an odorless garlic supplement
- Price per serving: $0.12
Softgel capsules, such as this one from Nature’s Bounty, help ensure that a supplement is more effectively absorbed by the body. The enteric outer coating helps protect the contents from stomach acid to ensure that they make it to the part of the digestive tract where they can most easily be absorbed.
This product is also odorless and very inexpensive, and reviewers rate it highly for ease of use. However, it contains soybean oil which may contribute to inflammation. You should take one softgel four times daily with meals.
Related Post: The 9 Best Supplements to Fight Inflammation
What we like:
- Softgel form
- Odorless
- Highly rated
What to consider:
- Contains soybean oil
Best Garlic Extract Supplement: Nature’s Truth Odorless Garlic
Nature’s Truth
Key features & specs
- Garlic per serving: 12 milligrams odorless garlic extract
- Certifications: Non-GMO, gluten-free
- Best for: People who want a high dose garlic supplement; people on a budget
- Price per serving: $0.08
This Nature’s Truth garlic supplement offers the highest dose of garlic per softgel on our list, making it a good choice if you’re looking for a larger daily dose of garlic. One softgel contains 12 milligrams of odorless garlic concentrate, equivalent to 1,200 milligrams of fresh garlic. However, you can take up to four softgels daily with meals, to provide the equivalent of up to 4,800 milligrams of fresh garlic.
The product is also non-GMO, gluten-free, odorless and very inexpensive. However, some reviewers say it does have a slight garlic taste and smell. It also contains pro-inflammatory soybean oil.
What we like:
- Inexpensive
- Non-GMO and gluten-free
- Highest dose of garlic per softgel
What to consider:
- Contains soybean oil
Best Garlic Oil Supplement: Sports Research Vegan Garlic Oil
Sports Research
Key features & specs
- Garlic per serving: 10 milligrams garlic oil
- Certifications: Non-GMO Project Verified, Certified Vegan, gluten-free
- Best for: People who want to avoid soybean oil and fillers; people who prefer non-GMO or vegan products
- Price per serving: $0.19
Although it’s more expensive than some others on this list, this vegan-friendly garlic oil supplement from Sports Research is made from high-quality garlic oil and provides the equivalent of one gram of fresh garlic per serving. It’s also certified vegan and non-GMO, free of fillers and made with organic extra virgin olive oil instead of low-quality soybean oil.
The product also contains parsley seed and chlorophyll, which give the softgels a green tint. Reviewers report that this supplement has helped them with a variety of health concerns. According to Sports Research, you should take two softgel capsules per day.
What we like:
- Free of fillers and soybean oil
- Non-GMO, Certified Vegan and gluten-free
- Odorless
What to consider:
- More expensive than similar garlic supplements
What Is a Garlic Supplement?
Garlic supplements are dietary supplements that contain garlic extract. Although garlic (Allium sativum) is most well known for its strong, distinctive aroma and flavor, garlic cloves also contain a powerful compound called allicin—along with several other vitamins, minerals and bioactives. These compounds give this humble culinary ingredient several health benefits.
Benefits of Garlic
According to Kelsey Kunik, R.D.N., a dietitian at Graciously Nourished, there are three key benefits of garlic:
- Reduced blood pressure: Studies have shown that garlic can help lower blood pressure levels.
- Reduced cholesterol: Garlic may also help reduce total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels, which could translate to better heart health.
- Antioxidant activity: “Garlic’s antioxidant activity can help reduce disease-causing oxidative stress in the body,” says Kunik.
- Immune support: Garlic may help you get fewer, less severe colds.
Best Form of Garlic Supplement
For the most part, the various forms of garlic supplements are similar. “Capsules are the least likely to leave a garlic taste in your mouth,” says Kunik. She adds that aged garlic supplements may have less taste and odor.
Allicin extract may be the most powerful, although these are significantly more expensive than supplements made from whole garlic.
Best Time to Take Garlic Supplement
Generally, you can take a garlic supplement whenever it’s most convenient for you. Most supplement manufacturers include instructions to take garlic supplements with food; however, Kunik says that taking them in the morning may be better for people who get stomach upset or heartburn from garlic supplements, which could disrupt sleep if the supplements are taken in the evening.
Precautions on Garlic Supplements
“The most common side effects of garlic supplements are bloating, gas, diarrhea, heartburn and bad breath,” says Kunik.
She adds that people who are taking blood thinners, blood pressure medications or any other prescription medications should consult their doctor before taking garlic supplements.
How to Choose the Best Garlic Supplement for You
Choosing the best garlic supplement for you comes down a few key considerations: price, key ingredients and ingredient quality.
Garlic supplements are available in a range of price points. Generally, the most expensive options are made with higher quality ingredients. However, for the most part, garlic supplements are very inexpensive.
Next, you’ll want to consider the key ingredient. Do you want isolated allicin extract, aged garlic extract or regular garlic extract?
Finally, you’ll want to choose a supplement that matches your quality preferences. If you prefer organic or non-GMO, these options may be slightly more expensive.
What to Avoid in a Garlic Supplement
Garlic supplements are very safe. However, you may want to avoid those containing unnecessary fillers or low-quality oils.
Additionally, you should avoid garlic supplements that don’t come from reputable brands. Some signs of a reputable brand include positive and authentic user reviews, third-party testing and certifications, and transparency about ingredient sourcing.
Our Methodology: How We Chose the Best Garlic Supplement
When choosing the best garlic supplements, we based our picks on the expert insights that Kunik provided. We also looked for supplements that contained clinically researched ingredients, like allicin and aged garlic extract.
In addition, we heavily weighed customer reviews to ensure that the products were high quality.
We also chose products at a variety of price points, including some Amazon options, to make it easier to find one for any budget.
Garlic Supplement FAQs
What are the benefits of garlic capsules daily?
Taking garlic capsules daily is a great way to access the benefits of garlic in an easy and convenient way. “Garlic supplements can help you reap the health benefits of garlic without having to eat an incredible amount of this potent plant,” says Kunik.
Garlic supplements are very safe, and studies have noted no major side effects. However, it’s best to stick to the recommended daily dose on your supplement label.
Is taking garlic pills the same as eating garlic?
Taking garlic pills can provide the same benefits as eating raw garlic bulbs. It’s a great alternative if you dislike the taste of garlic, but still want to reap the benefits of it. On the contrary, garlic pills are also far more concentrated than your go-to garlic bulb. A single garlic clove boasts about two to five milligrams of allicin per gram, while garlic supplements typically provide 600 to 1,200 milligrams per serving, giving you a bit more bang for your buck.
Who should not eat garlic?
Most people don’t need to restrict garlic in their food unless they are allergic to it. However, the optimal amount appears to be about one to two cloves per day. Consuming too much raw garlic could cause burns.
Which is better: fish oil or garlic?
Fish oil and garlic contain different bioactive compounds that offer different benefits with some overlap. It’s safe to take fish oil and garlic supplements together.
Do garlic pills increase blood flow?
Garlic supplements can increase blood flow, according to Kunik. She says they may increase nitric oxide production, which helps the blood vessel walls to relax.
Takeaway: Are Garlic Supplements Worth It?
Garlic may help support cardiovascular health, cellular function and the immune system. Garlic supplements are a great way to make garlic part of your routine without worrying so much about bad breath. Garlic supplements are also inexpensive, but you may need to do some searching to find one that’s made with healthy oils and no fillers.
Prices are accurate and items in stock as of publish time.
