title: Safety and efficacy of a ginkgo biloba-containing dietary supplement on cognitive function, quality of life, and platelet function in healthy, cognitively intact older adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine if a ginkgo biloba-containing supplement improves cognitive function and quality of life, alters primary hemostasis, and is safe in healthy, cognitively intact older adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four-month, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel design.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety men and women (age range 65 to 84 years) were recruited to a university clinic. Eligibility included those without dementia or depression, not taking psychoactive medications or medications or supplements that alter hemostasis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety subjects were randomly assigned to placebo or a ginkgo biloba-based supplement containing 160 mg ginkgo biloba, 68 mg gotu kola, and 180 mg decosahexaenoic acid per day for 4 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  Assessments included: six standardized cognitive function tests, the SF-36 Quality of Life questionnaire, the Platelet Function Analyzer-100 (Dade Behring, Eschbom, Germany), and the monitoring of adverse events.
  
  
  METHODS
  Baseline characteristics and study hypotheses were tested using analysis of covariance. Tests were two-tailed with a 0.05 significance level.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-eight subjects (87%) completed both baseline and 4-month testing (n=36 in placebo group, n=42 in ginkgo biloba group). At baseline, the participants' cognitive function was above average. One of six cognitive tests indicated significant protocol differences at 4 months (P=0.03), favoring the placebo. There were no significant differences in quality of life, platelet function, or adverse events.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These finding do not support the use of a ginkgo biloba-containing supplement for improving cognitive function or quality of life in cognitively intact, older, healthy adults. However, high baseline scores may have contributed to the null findings. The ginkgo biloba product seems safe and did not alter platelet function, though additional studies are needed to evaluate the interaction of varying doses of ginkgo biloba and ginkgo biloba-containing supplements with medications and supplements that alter hemostasis.
authors.affiliation: Sport and Cardiovascular Nutrition Program, Department of Radiology, Michigan State University, College of Osteopathic Medicine, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA. joe.carlson@radiology.msu.edu
authors.forename: Joseph J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Carlson
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Farquhar
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: DiNucci
authors.forename: Laurie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ausserer
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zehnder
authors.forename: Donald
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Kathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Berra
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hagerty
authors.forename: William L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Haskell
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D020441:Ginkgo biloba / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012449:Safety; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts