Ginkgo Biloba Doesn’t Protect From Alzheimer’s
Second Major Study Shows No Benefit to Supplement
Sept. 5, 2012 — A second large study failed to show that the supplement ginkgo biloba can prevent Alzheimer’s disease.
The study included close to 3,000 elderly people in France with memory problems. Some of them took ginkgo biloba and some did not.
Over five years of follow-up, about the same number of people in the two groups got Alzheimer’s disease.
The study is published in the journal Lancet Neurology.
An earlier study followed people in the U.S. for an average of six years. It also found no evidence that ginkgo biloba prevents Alzheimer’s disease or delays mental problems.
Ginkgo Increases Smooth Muscle Cells
The more smooth muscle cells you have, the better your erections.
Ginkgo can help you with that.
A study was done where they looked at the effect of Ginkgo on rats with erectile dysfunction.
They divided 43 rats into four groups and gave them different levels of Ginkgo: none, low, medium, and high.
The researchers found that there was a significant improvement in erectile function for the high dose group compared to the group that didnt get any Ginkgo.
The two in the middle responded in line with how much they were given.
Specifically, the study found that the rats that were given the most Ginkgo biloba had better smooth muscle development in the arteries leading to their penises, facilitating blood flow and trapping and thus making it easier for them to get hard.
The study also found that nitric oxide synthase improved with the high dose Ginkgo group, a finding reflected in other studies too
Ginkgo May Improve Ssri Induced Sexual Dysfunction
Above I showed you just what Ginkgo can do for your erections.
But there is one more benefit of taking Ginkgo it might help with the sexual dysfunction caused by SSRIs.
Last week I talked about SSRIs and Erectile Dysfunction, specifically about the problem of Post-SSRI sexual dysfunction and the fact that it can last forquite a long while.
Ginkgo might be able to help.
A study from researchers at the University of California found that of 30 men studied, 74% reported that Ginkgo helped cure them of their PSSD.
Whats more, this number was even higher for women at 91%.
However, its not all good news.
Another study gave Ginkgo to six men and six women with PSSD and compared them to a placebo group and found no significant difference at 12 weeks for either sex.
And while these numbers are smaller, they were actually given more Ginkgo biloba then the people in the previous study .
That said, researchers did note:
There were some spectacular individual responses in both groups
So while its clear that Ginkgo is a superb supplement to help enhance erections, the jury is still out on whether it can cure SSRI-induced erectile dysfunction.
But if it were me and I was in a sexless relationship with post-SSRI, Id definitely give it a try, at the 120mg dosage used in the successful study.
You May Like: Cleveland Clinic Parkinson’s Bicycle Study 2017
Gbe Recovered The Locomotor Activity Of
The ultimate therapeutic goal of GBE treatment is to ameliorate the functional impairments of PD. Accordingly, we tested for locomotor activity impairment using the pole test, forced swim test, and wire-hang test . The mice in the high-dose, intermediate-dose, low-dose, and Madopa groups showed significantly better locomotor performance compared with the control group . GBE treatment improved locomotor activity in A53T -synuclein transgenic mice in a dose-dependent manner. The therapeutic effectiveness of intermediate- and high-dose GBE was similar with Madopa.
Figure 1Scores were achieved by the pole test, forced swim test, and wire-hang test in -synuclein A53T transgenic mice. *p< 0.05 compared with the control group & p< 0.05 compared with the Madopa group.
An Insight On Parkinsons
Before we start thinking of treatment methods, we need to understand the actual disease. Parkinsons is caused by nerve cell degenerations, preventing the brain from connecting with the body as it moves. Usually, you dont even notice the disease at first. Initial symptoms include stiffness, a weakness of a limb, or a faint trembling when youre resting your hand. Over time, these symptoms become more and more obvious, the tremors getting worse as they become full-on shaking of the limbs. At this point, you start to lose your movement, balance and coordination of your whole body.
It is not unusual to experience mental conditions such as cognitive problems or depression as a Parkinsons patient. While most of the time the disease is genetic, there are also certain factors that are said to increase the risk of Parkinsons, such as:
- Illegal drug use
Treatments can vary, but there are also ways to prevent it.
Don’t Miss: Voice Amplifiers For Parkinson’s
Gbe Improved The Activity Of Different Antioxidant Enzymes In
The neurological damage seen in patients with PD involves free radical synthesis and oxidative stress. To explore the effects of GBE treatment, we determined whether it was associated with changes in the activity of antioxidant enzymes such as SOD and GSH-PX and in the expression of MDA. The results are shown in Figure 2. SOD activity improved significantly in the high-dose, intermediate-dose, low-dose, and Madopa groups compared with the control group . GBE treatment improved SOD activity in A53T -synuclein transgenic mice in a dose-dependent manner. The therapeutic effectiveness of intermediate- and high-dose GBE was similar with Madopa. GSH-PX activity showed a trend similar to the SOD activity. In contrast, MDA expression was significantly reduced in the high-dose, intermediate-dose, low-dose, and Madopa groups compared with the control group . GBE treatment reduced MDA expression in A53T -synuclein transgenic mice by a dose-dependent manner. The therapeutic effectiveness of intermediate- and high-dose GBE was similar with Madopa.
Figure 2SOD activity, GSH-PX activity, and the expression of MDA were measured in -synuclein A53T transgenic mice. *p< 0.05 compared with the control group & p< 0.05 compared with the Madopa group.
Animals Feed And Treatment
Fifty -synuclein A53T transgenic mice were purchased by the Model Animal Research Center of Nanjing University under laboratory animal production license number XCYK 2010-0001. Mice were housed in an specific pathogen-free -grade laboratory in Guangdong Medical Laboratory Animal Center under experimental animal license SYXK 2013-0002. All experiments were approved by the Guangdong Medical Laboratory Animal Center ethical boards. The mice were exposed to a 10:14-hour light/dark cycle, 20% to 26% humidity at 21 ± 2°C and had ad libitum access to food and water for 8 months. The mice were randomly divided into five groups of ten mice each: group 1 was treated with normal saline group 2 was treated with a high dose of GBE group 3 was treated with an intermediate dose of GBE group 4 was treated with a low dose of GBE and group 5 was treated with Madopa . After 21 days of treatment, locomotor activity was evaluated by using a forced swim test, a pole-climbing test, and a wire-hang test. Further, mice were sacrificed by cervical dislocation. Brains were dissected out and divided into two parts. One part was used to detect superoxide dismutase , glutathione peroxidase , and malondialdehyde , and the other was used to detect the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase and dopamine transporters .
Don’t Miss: Judy Woodruff Parkinson’s
Search Strategy And Selection Criteria
The focus of our paper were plants used for the treatment of PD, and only plants tested in humans. As noted previously, plants with mechanisms of action beyond simply demonstrating antioxidant activities were selected.
The methodology for systematic reviews was modified and divided into a two stage process owing to the availability of references and the languages in which they are written. For the European plants, due to the lack of systematic databases on herbs traditionally used to treat PD, the first stage focused on hard-cover books published in Croatia and surrounding countries to prepare the list of herbs used in Europe, and the oldest book used was Gursky . For herbs used in Asia, the same strategy was used, although the unavailability of books published in English was a challenge. Most of the books which were referred for this review were published in either Sinhala or Tamil, which are two native languages of Sri Lanka. Nevertheless, in order to avoid translational errors and misinterpretations, occasional referencing of Sinhala and Tamil books for verification purposes was carried out while primary sourcing was done in books published in English.
Table 1. Bioactive compounds with neuroprotective effects isolated from European and Asian plants.
Ginkgo Biloba For Erections
Ive talked before how you can use Ginkgo Biloba for erections due to its ability to act as a natural inhibitor of PDE5.
But since then, there have been lots of questions around ginkgo , specifically, how it can be used as a natural treatment for erectile dysfunction.
So heres the definitive guide to how ginkgo can help you get it up.
Read Also: Parkinson Silverware
Randomization And Allocation Sequence
Participants were enrolled by dementia specialists. According to the diagnostic and exclusion criteria for PDD, 60 patients with PDD were enrolled and then randomly allocated into two groups. Third-party doctors who were not involved in participant enrollment, diagnosis and assessment were responsible for the random grouping and drug delivery. The third-party physicians generated random number sequence using SAS software for the participants with PDD. Then sealed envelopes with the serial number outside, group number and treatment allocations inside were produced, and kept in a locked drawer which was inaccessible to all the researchers. The envelopes were opened sequentially by the third-party physicians after baseline assessments, and participants were assigned to two groups equally according to the group number printed inside the envelopes. The subjects and their families and caregivers, evaluation personnel, and investigators were blinded to each patients group status and the distribution of experimental drugs.
What Is Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinsons disease is a devastating neurodegenerative diseasea condition that affects the nervous system and progressively gets worse over time. Parkinsons disease is debilitating and causes the affected person to be unable to control their movements. Parkinsons disease is a rare condition and doesnt often affect people under the age of 50. Men are more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease than women. Parkinsons disease is such an awful condition to live with, it often produces emotional distresses such as anxiety and depression. People with advanced Parkinsons disease also begin to suffer cognitive decline and experience trouble processing thoughts or performing critical thinking.1,2 What Causes Parkinsons Disease?Parkinsons disease is caused when neurons in the brain start to break down and die off. Many of the neurons that die off are those that are responsible for producing dopaminethe neurotransmitter involved in mood and behavior. Other affected neurons are those that are responsible for physical muscle movements, leading to Parkinsons disease symptoms.1,2But what exactly triggers these neurons to weaken and die off is unknown. At this point, scientists have only identified certain risk factors that can contribute to Parkinsons disease, including:
- Genetics: Certain genetic mutations may put people at greater risk of developing Parkinsons.
- Environmental Factors: Exposure to environmental toxins may trigger Parkinsons disease.
References
Don’t Miss: Similar To Parkinsons
The Effectiveness Of Ginkgo Biloba
Since the reason of Parkinsons disease development is the degeneration of neurotransmitting cells, you would need something of an equal power to protect your brain against the degeneration. This is where ginkgo biloba comes in handy because it actually possesses such abilities. Studies show that ginkgo biloba can shield your brain from Parkinsons triggered by mercury poisoning, balancing the dopamine levels needed to protect you against the disease. It is said that ginkgo biloba has such great neuroprotective abilities simply because it has anti-apoptosis and anti-oxidant properties.
Ginkgo biloba is also said to inhibit the enzymes that metabolize the dopamine, which in turn aids in the creation of free radicals. This proves once more that this plant is a great help when it comes to Parkinsons.
Traditional Chinese Medicine And Acupuncture
Traditional Chinese Medicine views disease as caused by internal imbalances. It has historically been used to treat Parkinson disease with acupuncture and individually prepared herbal remedies. One study showed that acupuncture improved symptoms in a small group of people with Parkinson disease. People with Parkinson disease may also find that acupuncture helps them sleep better. If you consult a TCM practitioner, make sure your doctor is aware of any suggested treatment.
You May Like: Parkinson’s Bike Therapy
Antioxidants: Vitamin C And E Mediterranean Diet
Since there is evidence relating oxidative damage of nerve cells to PD, some researchers are studying antioxidants:
- A 2002 study focused on the potential antioxidant Coenzyme Q10 , which is believed to play an important role in mitochondria health. Mitochondria are the “powerhouses” of a cell. Some scientists think that abnormalities of mitochondrial function may play a role in PD.
In 2011, a large clinical trial studying the potential benefits of CoQ10 on reducing the progression of early PD was stopped because a mid-study analysis suggested that there was no improvement in the people taking CoQ10 in comparison to those receiving treatment. Researchers decided that continuing the study would have shown an extremely low likelihood of CoQ10 showing any benefit in delaying the progression of early PD.
Scientists have also examined Vitamin E, Vitamin C and health foods to evaluate oxidative properties. Vitamin E can fight damage in the brain caused by free radicals and has been suggested to lower the risk of PD. However, researchers conducted an extensive and thorough study more than 10 years ago and failed to find any evidence that Vitamin E slows the progression of PD or manages symptoms. Since Vitamin E has few side effects, many people with PD continue to take it in high doses of 400 IU or more.
Qualitative Liquid Chromatography Tandem
2.2.1. Sample preparation
Sample preparation was performed as previously described . A brief description of the method is included in the Supplementary Material.
2.2.2. LC conditions
An Agilent 1200 high performance liquid chromatography system with an Agilent Zorbax SB-C18 column was used for chromatographic separation. The mobile phase was composed of 0.01% formic acid-water and acetonitrile , with a gradient elution as detailed in Table S1. The flow rate of the mobile phase was 0.6 mL/min. The column temperature was maintained at 30 °C and sample injection volume was 10 L. The diode array detector scan wavelength was set from 190 to 400 nm.
2.2.3. MS parameters and analysis
Qualitative analysis of the GBDP solution was performed by liquid chromatography-ion trap mass spectrometry using a Finnigan LCQ DECA XPplus mass spectrometer , with positive and negative electrospray ionization sources. Analysis was performed as previously described . The procedure is described in the Supplementary Material.
2.2.4. Multivariate statistical analysis of the chemical profiles of GBDP and EGb 761
Also Check: Adaptive Silverware For Parkinson’s
It May Reduce Oxidative Stress And Inflammation In The Brain In Parkinsons Disease
Ginkgo extracts are known to possess antioxidant properties.
Since neurons are subjected to excessive oxidative stress induced by free oxygen radicals in Parkinsons, consumption of these leaf extracts can prove to be beneficial.
Standardized ginkgo extracts reduce oxidative damage and increasing antioxidant enzyme levels in the brain primarily the hippocampus .
Ageing is associated with increased risk of neurodegenerative diseases. One major underlying cause behind this is an increase in oxidative stress as we age.
This consequently results in degeneration of neurons as well as degenerative diseases like Parkinsons.
Ginkgo biloba is known to act against increased oxidative stress in ageing.
Increased levels of inflammatory agents in the brain accelerate degeneration in Parkinsons disease.
This inflammation could occur as a result of increased oxidative stress, exposure to neurotoxic agents or immune dysfunction.
Ginkgo biloba has anti-inflammatory properties that can counteract neuroinflammation or brain inflammation.
Quick Gist: Ginkgo biloba has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce oxidative damage and neuroinflammation. This can help halt the degeneration of brain cells in Parkinsons disease.
Dosage Of Ginkgo Biloba For Parkinsons Disease
Ginkgo biloba is available in the form of standardised extracts, liquid extracts, whole herb capsules, dried leaf for teas. The standardised extracts have been prepared from the leaves.
No clinical trial to date has examined the effect of standardised Ginkgo extracts in Parkinsons disease. A case study has reported that a dose of 40mg of standardised Ginkgo extract three times a day is effective in reducing symptoms of Parkinsons disease.
Other studies have noted that a dose of 240 mg standardised Ginkgo supplement can help reduce cognitive decline and may aid in the prevention of dementia and other neurological conditions.
Please consult a health practitioner before taking Ginkgo biloba supplements.
Recommended Reading: On Off Phenomenon
Alzheimer’s Risk Same With Without Ginkgo
The French study included people in their 70s and older. They had complained to their doctors of having problems with memory.
Half of the people took ginkgo biloba twice a day. The other half took identical-looking placebo pills.
Over the next five years, 4% of the ginkgo biloba group and 5% of the placebo group were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
Ginkgo Biloba: The Natural Enemy Of Parkinsons Disease
Parkinsons disease stands at the top of age-related conditions in the U.S. We notice millions of people suffering from this condition, and it is expected that the frequency would triple over the next 50 years.
While the cause of this increase in Parkinsons occurrences is unknown, experts have tried to find some ways to treat this illness. What they discovered was that ginkgo biloba had the ability to protect your brain against Parkinsons.
Recommended Reading: Weighted Silverware
Ginkgo Biloba Induces Enos Expression
As I mentioned, Ginkgo has been found to improve your wood by promoting nitric oxide synthase.
This in turn increases your nitric oxide production and thus makes it easier to get an erection due to NOs key role in the erection process.
Another study looked at 32 rats and dosed them with Ginkgo .
They found that the levels of NO and NO synthase both increased in line with the dosage of Ginkgo the rats were given.
They also found that this increase improved over time, with the highest levels of NO recorded on day 7 .
Another study found that Ginkgo improved Krüppel-like factor 2 activation.
KLF2 has vascular protective effects and further contributes to more NO synthase production and thus, better wood.
A positive spinoff that both these studies mention as well is that both KLF2 and NO production promote cardiovascular health, in general.
This means if you start taking Ginkgo you start a virtuous cycle: your NO production and synthase improves and your heart gets healthier, both of which make it easier for you to get hard.