Saturday Quack – Another Strike Against Ginkgo Biloba

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have completed a study of the use of Ginkgo biloba in elderly patients with cardiovascular disease.  They’ve published their results in the journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.

The first study conducted was entitled Ginkgo Evaluation of Memory Study (GEMS), and demonstrated that Ginkgo biloba had no effect on the development of dementia.  There were a over 3,000 participants aged 75 or older, randomly assigned to take 120 mg of Ginkgo biloba twice a day, or a matching placebo.    Follow-up averaged 6.1 years, and cardiovascular events were recorded, along with mortality.

There was no difference in the total number of deaths or the number of deaths from coronary heart disease between the Ginkgo biloba and the placebo groups.  Similarly, the incidences of heart attack, angina pectoris, and stroke were uninfluenced by Ginkgo therapy.  The only statistically significant difference between the groups in the occurrence of conditions was in the peripheral vascular disease area; there were 12 such events in the Ginkgo group, and 23 in the placebo subjects.

The researchers conclude that there was no evidence that Ginkgo biloba treatment reduced total or cardiovascular mortality, or cardiovascular events.  The findings with peripheral vascular disease may possibly deserve further studies.  In the meantime, save your pennies and don’t buy Ginkgo preparations.