Effective against Alzheimer's disease

The first empirical clinical trial of Ginkgo biloba extract conducted in the United States, and reported in the October 22, 1997 Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA), showed that GBE was beneficial in delaying the progression of dementia in patients for six months to one year. The double-blind clinical trial involved 327 patients with dementia caused by Alzheimer's or stroke, in which the patients were randomly assigned to take either Ginkgo supplements or a look-alike placebo every day for one year.

The study assessed the effects of Ginkgo on age-related mental decline, the kind many Americans experience as we age. The results were astounding.

According to Pierre L. LeBars, M.D., Ph.D. and his colleagues from the New York Institute for Medical Research, Tarrytown, N.Y., after six months the group that took the placebo did worse in all areas, which would be expected due to the progressive nature of Alzheimer's. Almost one third of the Alzheimer's patients who took daily GBE supplementation showed improvement in their social behavior and on standard tests of reasoning and memory. That means GBE can help extend your healthy mental lifespan!¹¹

Since that early study, dozens of studies have added to LeBars' findings. An in-vitro study done at McGill University, Quebec, and recently published in September 2002 found that GBE extract is effective in preventing cellular death from beta-amyloid deposits found in Alzheimer's disease. Since a build-up of amyloid plaques contribute to a loss of normal brain function—and ultimately a loss of memory—this is a significant finding.¹²

GBE improves intelligence in healthy, young people

You don't have to be middle-aged or older for Ginkgo to help increase brainpower! Recently, there has been much speculation that GBE may act as a 'smart drug,' improving intelligence in healthy, young people.

In a 30-day double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, 61 participants were given a battery of validated neuropsychological tests before and after treatment with GBE. Results indicated that due to the Ginkgo, the subjects showed a significant improvement in the speed at which they processed information and retained it.¹³

In another placebo-controlled, double-blind study, 20 participants received 120 mg, 240 mg and 360 mg of a standardized extract of Ginkgo or a placebo. The results showed that the people who received Ginkgo biloba had a sustained improvement in attention, even six hours after they had received the supplement.¹⁴

Choosing the right Ginkgo biloba extract product

There are hundreds of Ginkgo products on the market, and most of them aren't worth the price of the bottle they come in simply because they don't meet the pharmaceutical standards of the supplements that are used in clinical studies … and many contain potentially dangerous levels of ginkgolic acid. Unlike other countries that sell ginkgo extracts as pharmaceuticals, the United States' sales of Ginkgo are unregulated and provide the consumer with no guarantee of quality or potency.

Safety first

Most people aren't aware that Ginkgo leaves contain a toxic compound called ginkgolic acid. Pharmaceutical-grade Ginkgo extract must contain less than 5 parts per million of ginkgolic acid. But in the US, you can't be sure how much ginkgolic acid is in your product unless it is specifically stated on the label … and most manufacturers don't list it on the label. Even worse, many products contain hundreds of times the acceptable limit of toxic ginkgolic acid, and the consumer has no way of knowing.

You cannot expect to get the amazing results that Ginkgo biloba extract has been scientifically proven to provide by taking inferior quality products, but unfortunately most products being sold are just that. Imagine the possibilities a truly superior Ginkgo biloba product can offer. 

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References