Patient preferences for novel therapy: an N-of-1 trial of garlic in the treatment for hypertension

J Gen Intern Med. 1993 Nov;8(11):619-21. doi: 10.1007/BF02599719.

Abstract

The authors used the N-of-1 clinical trial methodology to obtain insights about a patient's preference for garlic for the management of his hypertension. The 61-year-old man received garlic, 500 mg by mouth three times a day (3 weeks), or identical placebo (3 weeks) in three treatment pairs. While the patient was taking garlic the mean systolic blood pressure decreased by 2 mm Hg (95% confidence interval 0.4 to 4.7, p < 0.05), and the diastolic blood pressure decreased by 2.4 mm Hg (95% confidence interval 0.4 to 4, p < 0.025). The treatment effect of garlic was small, but the patient believed continuing garlic for the management of his hypertension was justified.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Blood Pressure
  • Confidence Intervals
  • Garlic*
  • Humans
  • Hypertension / physiopathology
  • Hypertension / therapy*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Patient Participation*
  • Plants, Medicinal*