ginkgo

Recently an intersting  article was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association reporting that Ginkgo biloba extract has no effect on dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, and does not reduce cognitive decline in older adults with normal cognition or with mild cognitive impairment.

This study was a secondary analysis of data from the randomized double blind Ginkgo Evaluation of Memory (GEM) study that first was published in November, 2008. In the original GEM trial more than three thousand individuals of age 76 or older participated. They were assigned to either placebo or 120 mg twice-daily ginkgo extract.  The first analysis of the original GEM study found Ginkgo biloba extract ineffective for preventing dementia even though the evidence of development of dementia was lower than expected, and 40 percent of the active group was not compliant to taking this extract.

In the latest article, on December 29 of 2009, a review was published of the data generated in the original GEM study of 2008 to see if ginkgo supported to slow the rate of cognitive decline in the study participants. Chief Science Officer of the American Herbal Association, Steven Dentali, PhD says, “The data review conducted for this article suffers from the same limitations as the original GEM study with an additional chalenge due to the resting schedule not being ideally suited for this new endpoint.”

Then he continued that the primary findings of the secondary analysis in no way undermine what has already been observed with regard to the usefulness of ginkgo biloba extract, particularly in providing symptomatic relief in persons who already suffer from dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.

So why the popular botanical ginkgo biloba doesn’t improve people’s memory or doesn’t prevent cognitive decline in older people, according to the largest scientific study ever undertaken to analyse this supplement. Do you know it has been in use in the USA since the 197os as an aid to improve memory, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and cognitive impairement?

The ginkgo tree (ginkgo, fossil tree, maidenhair tree, Japanese silver apricot, bai guo ye, kew tree, yin-hsing)  is one of the oldest trees in the world. Ginkgo seeds have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousand of years. Ginkgo leaf extract has been an aid to treat also asthma, bronchitis, fatigue, leg pain caused by narrowing arteries, sexual dysfunction, multiple sclerosis, and tinnitis (ringing or roaring sounds in the ears).  Many people who used ginkgo leaf extract to improve memory got positive results.  However, it’s not so easy for scientists and doctors to determine precisely if this extract is effective in treatment of Alzheimer’s  disease and other types of dementia because the patients in such condition are not able to give clear responses.

Douglas MacKay, vice president for scientific and regulatory affairs at the Council for Responsible Nutrition, a supplement industry trade group, and Chief Science Officer of American Herbal Products Association dispute the study’s findings. “There is a large body of previously published evidence, as well as ongoing trials, which suggest that ginkgo biloba is effective for helping improve cognitive impairment in older adults,” MacKay said in interview to USA Today. It should be, otherwise why this herb is used in the U.S. for about 40 years?

NCCAM, National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine, suggests on its website that larger, well-designed research studies are needed. As it is known,  NCCAM-funded study( the Ginkgo Evaluation of Memory, GEM) of the well-characterized ginkgo product, EGb-761, found it ineffective in lowering the overall incidence of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease in the elderly. Participants were followed for approximately 6 years. It’s a long time for any study, isn’t it?

And finally ginkgo biloba is ineffective. Another study sponsored by the National Institute on Aging after following more than 200 healthy adults over age 60 also found that ginkgo taken for 6 weeks did not improve memory. Obviously, these healthy people did not loose their memory yet and did not need any improvement, but just prevention measures.

As you know, any of us will do everything to manage our good health and well-being. Sometimes we don’t realize that natural medicines and drugs should be well coordinated and safe. Otherwise,  we can expect potential interactions between ginkgo and other natural supplements we take in addition to other prescription chemical drugs coming from a powerful pharmaceutical industry and prescribed to us by our always in a rush doctors.

Do our doctors, as health care providers,  have time in their busy schedule to evaluate  any combination of complimentary and alternative practices that their patients hope to get as the best treatment?  Who’s guilty or responsible after all? I bet, you don’t expect this answer. As a matter of fact, according to recent articles and studies, lately ginkgo biloba extract became the talk of a town. Should we ignore the fact that this supplement  was used for more than 500 years in traditional Chinese medicine, according to American Botanical Council? It was also used in the U.S. from 197os with sales of $99 million in 2008. As Nutrition Business Journal reported, it became the 8th most popular botanical in the American market.

References: http://nccam.nih.gov/ginkgo; De Smet PA. Herbal remedies. New England Journal of Medicine, 2002; 347 (25):2046-2056;  DeKosky ST, Williamson JD, Fitzpatrick AL, et al Ginkgo biloba for prevemtion of dementia: a randomized controlled trial. Journal of the American Medical Assiciation, 2008; 300 (19):2253-2262.