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MSM

Health News Archive 197 - Multiple Sclerosis
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Ginkgo Aids MS Patients

Extract of Ginkgo biloba may improve functionality among multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, according to a clinical trial published January 2006 in EXPLORE: The Journal of Science and Healing.

In the double blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group study, 22 MS patients matched for age, intelligence quotient (IQ) and education level were randomized to receive 240 mg/d of an extract of ginkgo biloba for four weeks. Researchers monitored trial participants for changes in scores on tests designed to assess depression, anxiety, fatigue, symptom severity and functional performance.

Substantially more individuals given ginkgo than those given placebo showed significant improvement on four or more measures of fatigue, symptom severity and functional performance. It also showed that no adverse events or side effects were reported and that ginkgo exerted modest beneficial effects on select functional measures (eg, fatigue) among some individuals with MS.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic demyelinating neurological disease afflicting young and middle-aged adults, resulting in problems with coordination, strength, cognition, affect, and sensation.

Source: Susan K. Johnson PhD, Bruce J. Diamond PhD, Sara Rausch MS, Michael Kaufman MD, Samuel C. Shiflett PhD and Linda Graves MD. The Effect of Ginkgo Biloba on Functional Measures in Multiple Sclerosis: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. EXPLORE: The Journal of Science and Healing; Volume 2, Issue 1, January 2006, Pages 19-24.