| Regular readers of this column know that I have a | | | | study, while the "control group" of patients received |
| strong interest in lifestyle- and diet-based approaches | | | | an identical-appearing placebo ("sugar pills) twice daily. |
| to disease prevention, but that I insist on rigorous, | | | | (As this was a double-blind study, neither the patient |
| high-quality research-based data before I can | | | | volunteers nor the researchers knew which patients |
| recommend a particular lifestyle or dietary | | | | were receiving Gingko pills and which were receiving |
| modification to my readers (or to myself). Many past | | | | the placebo pills until after the research study was |
| columns have reviewed the findings of research | | | | completed.) |
| studies with favorable results associated with specific | | | | Multiple validated cognitive screening exams were |
| nutritional or other lifestyle approaches to disease | | | | given to all of these older patient volunteers during |
| prevention. However, this week's column will report | | | | each year of the study, and the rate of annual |
| on a newly published prospective clinical research trial | | | | decline in cognitive function was then compared |
| that calls into question the supposed clinical value of | | | | between the two groups of patient volunteers. |
| the traditional Chinese medicine herb Ginkgo biloba in | | | | Areas of cognitive function that were specifically |
| reducing the cognitive decline associated with aging | | | | tested for in this high-powered prospective clinical |
| and Alzheimer's disease. | | | | research trial included memory, attention, visual-spatial |
| Previously published public health research data, based | | | | abilities, language function, and overall executive brain |
| upon low-powered research methods, have | | | | function. (Note: these same cognitive function tests |
| suggested that dietary supplementation with Ginkgo | | | | are also routinely utilized to assess cognitive function |
| biloba might be able to improve memory and | | | | in patients with Alzheimer's disease.) |
| cognition, particularly in older adults. However, more | | | | Unfortunately, there was absolutely no difference |
| recent data, based upon more robust types of clinical | | | | observed or measured in the rate of decline in |
| research, have called this assumption into question | | | | cognitive function between the two groups of older |
| (as well as previous claims that Gingko biloba can | | | | patient volunteers, indicating the lack of any clinically |
| delay or reverse the cognitive decline associated with | | | | detectable benefit in age-related cognitive decline |
| Alzheimer's disease). Now, a newly published | | | | associated with high-dose supplementation with |
| prospective, randomized, double-blind, | | | | Ginkgo biloba. |
| placebo-controlled clinical trial of Gingko biloba | | | | (As an editorial aside, the Journal of the American |
| supplementation in older adults in the United States | | | | Medical Association (JAMA) is to be commended for |
| appears to have definitively resolved the controversy | | | | publishing this rigorously performed clinical research |
| about the value of Gingko biloba in maintaining | | | | trial and its Level One research findings, as there is a |
| memory, and other high level cognitive functions, in | | | | well-known bias against publishing clinical research |
| older adults. | | | | studies with "negative findings," such as this study, |
| Ginkgo biloba trees are often referred to as living | | | | among prestigious medical journals.) |
| fossils, as they are known to survive for 1,500 years | | | | Although this is the second recent high-level |
| or more, and their presence has been documented | | | | prospective clinical research trial that has found |
| within fossil-bearing rocks more than 270 million years | | | | absolutely no clinical benefit in preserving or improving |
| old. Although ancient fossils containing the distinctive | | | | cognitive function in older adults associated with |
| bilobed leaves of Ginkgo biloba trees have been | | | | Ginkgo biloba supplements, there may still be potential |
| found on multiple continents, modern day Gingko | | | | clinical applications for this ancient herbal remedy in |
| trees now grow naturally only in China (although they | | | | view of its known ability to improve blood flow |
| have been widely cultivated, over a period of | | | | through networks of small blood vessels in the body. |
| centuries, throughout Asia, and particularly in Japan | | | | There is also some research evidence available |
| and Korea). | | | | suggesting that Ginkgo biloba may have potentially |
| A new highly-powered prospective clinical research | | | | important anti-inflammatory properties, and that |
| trial evaluating Ginkgo biloba supplementation appears | | | | these properties might be clinically useful in some |
| in this week's issue of the Journal of the American | | | | chronic inflammatory diseases, such as ulcerative |
| Medical Association. More than 3,000 adults between | | | | colitis (Ginkgo biloba, ulcerative colitis & colorectal |
| the ages of 72 and 96 years participated in this | | | | cancer). For now, however, the overwhelming |
| placebo-controlled research trial, with an impressive | | | | available clinical research evidence indicates that |
| average patient follow-up duration of more than 6 | | | | Ginkgo biloba appears to offer no benefit to older |
| years. These patient volunteers were secretly | | | | patients in terms of either preserving or improving |
| randomized to one of two groups. The patients in | | | | memory, or in improving other areas of higher |
| the "experimental group" received 120 mg of Ginkgo | | | | cognitive function. |
| biloba extract twice daily during the course of this | | | | |