[The effect of ginkgo biloba on healthy elderly subjects].
OBJECTIVE
Over the past 25 years, numerous studies have confirmed the positive effect of the special ginkgo extract EGb 761 on the mental ability and emotional well-being of patients with cognitive disorders of vascular genesis, and Alzheimer-type dementia. The following study investigated the short-term effect of the special ginkgo extract EGb 761 on the subjective emotional well-being of healthy elderly subjects. STUDY POPULATION AND METHOD: The study was designed as a randomized double-blind, monocenter study with parallel groups. It included 66 healthy subjects of both sexes aged between 50 and 65 with no age-related cognitive impairments. For a period of 4 weeks, 34 subjects received a daily dose of 240 mg EGb 761, and 32 a placebo. Prior to starting medication and after 28 days of treatment, subjects completed the following scales and questionnaires to establish subjective emotional well-being: the Profile of Mood States (POMS), the Self Rating Depression Scale (SDS), three Visual Analog Scales to assess the quality of life (VAS-QoL), general health (VAS-GH) and mental health (VAS-MH), and a new instrument for assessing changes in general subjective well-being, the Subjective Intensity Score Mood (SIS Mood). Depending on the underlying distribution of the variables analyzed, parametric (t-tests) or nonparametric tests (U-tests) were performed to compare mean values and distributions both within and between the treatment groups.


RESULTS
The final examination revealed a statistically significant difference between the two groups for the VAS mental health and quality of life, as also for SIS Mood at the telephone interview in week 2. A comparison of baseline with the final examination within the groups showed a statistically significant improvement in the EGb 761 group for the variables: depression, fatigue, anger and SDS. For none of the variables investigated was a worsening observed in the EGb 761 group.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest a positive effect of EGb 761 on the subjective emotional well-being of healthy elderly persons.
Cieza
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A
Institut für Medizinische Psychologie, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München.
Maier
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P
Pöppel
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E
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology*; D000339:Affect / Q000187:drug effects*; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000187:drug effects*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D020441:Ginkgo biloba; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D000096983:Ginkgo Extract
D010936:Plant Extracts; C063170:Ginkgo biloba extract; D000096983:Ginkgo Extract