Ginkgo supplements don’t help...Um...................um......
August 20, 2002 4:41 PM Subscribe
Ginkgo supplements don’t help...Um...................um...... A new study suggests ginkgo supplements do nothing to quickly improve memory in healthy people, a finding that goes against years of well-publicized claims that helped turn the supplements into a multimillion-dollar industry.
I can't remember what mine said.
posted by DailyBread at 4:47 PM on August 20, 2002
posted by DailyBread at 4:47 PM on August 20, 2002
The full text of this article is available free at the JAMA website.
posted by iceberg273 at 4:47 PM on August 20, 2002
posted by iceberg273 at 4:47 PM on August 20, 2002
Never put complete faith in someone trying to sell you something.
posted by Nauip at 5:45 PM on August 20, 2002
posted by Nauip at 5:45 PM on August 20, 2002
If you're taking it to improve your memory, you might as well forget about it, so to speak? :-)
posted by clevershark at 5:45 PM on August 20, 2002
posted by clevershark at 5:45 PM on August 20, 2002
"Where can we get those placebos?"
"Hey, maybe there's some in that truck!" (points)
Crowd tips the truck over.
posted by clevershark at 5:46 PM on August 20, 2002
"Hey, maybe there's some in that truck!" (points)
Crowd tips the truck over.
posted by clevershark at 5:46 PM on August 20, 2002
My Dad was taking Ginkgo last year. He started noticing weird discoloration on his feet and asked his doctor about it. The doctor's opinion: The discoloration was because the tiny capillaries in the feet burst and the blood discolored the skin. The doctor believed that Ginkgo works by increasing blood flow to the brain (or in general) and might have caused this. Don't know if this theory holds water but my Dad didn't need any more info before he quit taking Ginkgo.
posted by tboz at 5:51 PM on August 20, 2002
posted by tboz at 5:51 PM on August 20, 2002
I saw a story about this on one of those news channels with scrolly things all over the screen (can't remember which, they all look the same) and was vastly amused to notice that they were showing packages of various ginkgo supplements on the right side of the screen... with the headline "gingko BULL-oba" on the left side.
Yes, they spelled something that was RIGHT THERE ON THE SCREEN IN FRONT OF THEM wrong.
posted by kindall at 5:54 PM on August 20, 2002
Yes, they spelled something that was RIGHT THERE ON THE SCREEN IN FRONT OF THEM wrong.
posted by kindall at 5:54 PM on August 20, 2002
Thanks for the full text, Icy. The first thing I ask when I see a study of anything is: "who funded it?" For a change, it looks like this wasn't funded by pharmaceutical companies to discredit herbal remedies.
Personally, I have no idea if Ginko Biloba works. I can say that tablets, which they used here, are rarely as effective as capsules or a tincture. Also, manufacturers recommendations on the bottle are often pure bunk. It isn't right, but it's true. They all say just about the same thing, and don't give a lot of details. It would have been heartening if the researchers had put more effort into finding out how to use the herb effectively (if this is, in fact, possible).
They do admit the limitations of the study. I'd have to add one more: all this really does is show that this tablet, with the manufacturer's instructions, don't work. That's not good, but it doesn't necessarily tell us about the herb itself.
posted by frykitty at 6:04 PM on August 20, 2002
Personally, I have no idea if Ginko Biloba works. I can say that tablets, which they used here, are rarely as effective as capsules or a tincture. Also, manufacturers recommendations on the bottle are often pure bunk. It isn't right, but it's true. They all say just about the same thing, and don't give a lot of details. It would have been heartening if the researchers had put more effort into finding out how to use the herb effectively (if this is, in fact, possible).
They do admit the limitations of the study. I'd have to add one more: all this really does is show that this tablet, with the manufacturer's instructions, don't work. That's not good, but it doesn't necessarily tell us about the herb itself.
posted by frykitty at 6:04 PM on August 20, 2002
uhhh... kindall, I think they spelled it that way on purpose.
posted by birdherder at 6:05 PM on August 20, 2002
posted by birdherder at 6:05 PM on August 20, 2002
For a change, it looks like this wasn't funded by pharmaceutical companies to discredit herbal remedies.
Gee, what about the funding by herbal remedies to credit herbs?
posted by fold_and_mutilate at 6:17 PM on August 20, 2002
Gee, what about the funding by herbal remedies to credit herbs?
posted by fold_and_mutilate at 6:17 PM on August 20, 2002
Next you're going to tell us that echinacea doesn't keep you from getting a cold. Ephedra works though, until those spoilsports at the DEA outlaw it and ruin it for everyone.
White Crosses. Zoom, zoom!
(Oh yeah, like you guys never abuse caffeine.)
posted by mark13 at 6:22 PM on August 20, 2002
White Crosses. Zoom, zoom!
(Oh yeah, like you guys never abuse caffeine.)
posted by mark13 at 6:22 PM on August 20, 2002
kindall, I think they spelled it that way on purpose.
What purpose does misspelling "ginkgo" as "gingko" serve?
posted by kindall at 6:50 PM on August 20, 2002
What purpose does misspelling "ginkgo" as "gingko" serve?
posted by kindall at 6:50 PM on August 20, 2002
I think he was refering to the "BULL"
posted by ParisParamus at 7:55 PM on August 20, 2002
posted by ParisParamus at 7:55 PM on August 20, 2002
I'd like to see some reliable info about whether ginkgo has any value in aiding circulation in general. (Just did a quick Google, but didn't find much.)
posted by StOne at 10:03 PM on August 20, 2002
posted by StOne at 10:03 PM on August 20, 2002
Gee, what about the funding by herbal remedies to credit herbs?
I don't like that much either.
posted by frykitty at 10:24 PM on August 20, 2002
I don't like that much either.
posted by frykitty at 10:24 PM on August 20, 2002
...Road to Perdition is the best movie I've seen this week!...that Tom Hanks is sure an up and comer...tell everyone you heard it here first!!!...Ginsana...I hope Billy and Angelina can work things out for the sake of that sweet baby...Gingko...so glad she and her father patched things up...bracers!
posted by Shike at 4:12 AM on August 21, 2002
posted by Shike at 4:12 AM on August 21, 2002
Now what are we going to do with all them pretty ginko trees in Philadelphia?
posted by adampsyche at 5:24 AM on August 21, 2002
posted by adampsyche at 5:24 AM on August 21, 2002
tboz ...
He started noticing weird discoloration on his feet ...
Don't wanna cause any anxiety, but isn't that an early symptom of adult onset diabetes?
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor. I just play one on MeFi.
posted by RavinDave at 9:37 AM on August 21, 2002
He started noticing weird discoloration on his feet ...
Don't wanna cause any anxiety, but isn't that an early symptom of adult onset diabetes?
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor. I just play one on MeFi.
posted by RavinDave at 9:37 AM on August 21, 2002
I'd like to see some reliable info about whether ginkgo has any value in aiding circulation in general.
Sure it does. It blasts all your blood right into your feet. Read the thread!
posted by Skot at 9:41 AM on August 21, 2002
Sure it does. It blasts all your blood right into your feet. Read the thread!
posted by Skot at 9:41 AM on August 21, 2002
Hmm. I must be the only regular user of Gingko Biloba here.
I've found that it works fairly well with continued concentration. I find I can read entire books more easily; the other effects might only be "physical" rather than physically effective, however. I don't know whether this signals a need to check myself out for pathologies, or to question the "brand" that was used in this (and other) studies. I tend to stay away from anything that adds soya bean oil and silica (or anything, for that matter).
posted by Hilarion at 11:39 AM on August 21, 2002
I've found that it works fairly well with continued concentration. I find I can read entire books more easily; the other effects might only be "physical" rather than physically effective, however. I don't know whether this signals a need to check myself out for pathologies, or to question the "brand" that was used in this (and other) studies. I tend to stay away from anything that adds soya bean oil and silica (or anything, for that matter).
posted by Hilarion at 11:39 AM on August 21, 2002
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posted by interrobang at 4:44 PM on August 20, 2002