Ginkgo biloba trials in MS population (BENEFITS)

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Clinical article

The Effect of Ginkgo Biloba next term on Functional Measures in

Multiple previous termSclerosis:next term A Pilot Randomized

Controlled Trial

K. PhD1, Bruce J. Diamond PhD2, 3, Corresponding Author

Contact Information, E-mail The Corresponding Author, Sara Rausch MS4,

Kaufman MD5, C. Shiflett PhD6 and Graves MD7

1University of North Carolina-Charlotte, Charlotte, NC

2 Paterson University

3Department of PM & R, UMDNJ-Newark, NJ Medical School

4Virginia Commonwealth University

5Carolinas HealthCare System MS Center

6Continuum Center for Health and Healing, Beth Israel Medical Center

7Comprehensive Rehabilitation Services, NJ

Available online 19 January 2006.

Background

Multiple previous term sclerosis next term (MS) is a chronic

demyelinating neurological disease afflicting young and middle-aged

adults, resulting in problems with coordination, strength, cognition,

affect, and sensation.

Objective

The objective of this study was to determine whether a previous

termginkgonext term extract (EGb 761) improved functional performance

in individuals with MS.

Design

This study used a double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group

design. The end point was change between baseline (ie,

preintervention) and follow-up evaluation following a regimen of four

tablets per day at 60 mg per tablet for four weeks.

Setting

The study was conducted in academic and clinical-based settings.

Patients/Participants

Twenty-two individuals with MS were randomly assigned to either the

treatment or control condition. Groups did not differ with respect to

age, IQ, and education.

Intervention

Half of the subjects received 240 mg per day of previous

termginkgonext term special extract (EGb 761), and the other half

received placebo.

Main Outcome Measure

The main outcome measures assessed depression (Center for

Epidemiologic Studies of Depression Scale [CES-D]), anxiety

(State-Trait Anxiety Inventory [sTAI]), fatigue (Modified Fatigue

Impact Scale [MFIS]); symptom severity (Symptom Inventory [sI]) and

functional performance (Functional Assessment of Multiple previous

termSclerosisnext term [FAMS]).

Results

The previous termginkgonext term group had significantly more

individuals showing improvement on four or more measures with

improvements associated with significantly larger effect sizes on

measures of fatigue, symptom severity, and functionality. The previous

termginkgonext term group also exhibited less fatigue at follow-up

compared with the placebo group.

Conclusions

This exploratory pilot study showed that no adverse events or side

effects were reported and that previous termginkgonext term exerted

modest beneficial effects on select functional measures (eg, fatigue)

among some individuals with MS.

Key words: fatigue; depression; symptom; EGb 761

EGb 761 was provided by Dr. Willmar Schwabe Company, Germany. No other

support either material or financial was provided.