Ginkgo biloba ranks as the most widely used supplement in Europe and is one of the top ten supplements used in the United States, as reported by the September 2003 issue of the "American Family Physician." Although some clinical trials have not borne out its benefits, ginkgo users take the supplement to prevent or treat dementia or Alzheimer's disease as well as other vascular diseases. Ginkgo may have some effect on blood pressure, although clinical studies do not give conclusive results. Do not take ginkgo biloba to treat high blood pressure without your physician's approval.
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Ginkgo biloba contains flavonoids, which are antioxidants that scavenge and destroy free radicals. The latter can damage cell DNA. Free radicals may contribute to diseases such as cancer, heart disease and other chronic diseases. The other potentially valuable ingredients in ginkgo, called terpenoids, dilate blood vessels and reduce the ability of platelets to stick together. These properties can increase blood flow through blood vessels, reducing the risk of heart disease and potentially also lowering blood pressure.
Studies Showing No Effect
A study conducted by researchers from the Wake Forest University School of Medicine reported in the May 2010 issue of the "American Journal of Hypertension" studied the effect of ginkgo biloba on blood pressure in 3,069 elderly patients. Of that number, 54 percent had high blood pressure, while 28 percent had borderline hypertension and 17 percent had normal blood pressure. Over a six-year follow up period, subjects who took ginkgo had no improvement in blood pressure or decrease in the incidence of hypertension compared to those who took placebo.
Studies Showing Positive Effect
A study conducted by researchers from the Slovak Academy of Sciences in Bratislava and reported in the September 2002 issue of the "Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology" assessed the effects of ginkgo on 70 healthy young subjects. Subjects took 120 mg of ginkgo biloba before performing physical stress while exposed to mental stimuli. Ginkgo reduced blood pressure compared to placebo without raising the heart rate, researchers reported.
Potential Risks
A single case of elevated blood pressure in a patient taking thiazide diuretics, which are used to treat high blood pressure along with ginkgo biloba was reported, but the patient was taking ginkgo biloba by injection and not orally as is usually the case. Ask your doctor about the safety of taking ginkgo with thiazide diuretics in your case. Ginkgo may also have blood thinning properties; if you take blood thinners to treat heart conditions, do not take ginkgo without asking your doctor first.
References
- "American Family Physician"; Ginkgo Biloba; Victor Sierpina, M.D.; September 2003
- University of Texas; Herbal Safety Ginkgo Biloba; Armando González Stuart, Ph.D.: 2005
- "American Journal of Hypertension"; Effect of Ginkgo Biloba on Blood Pressure and Incidence of Hypertension in Elderly Men and Women; T. Brinkley, et al.; May 2010
- "Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology"; Reduction of Rise in Blood Pressure and Cortisol Release During Stress by Ginkgo Biloba Extract (EGb 761) in Healthy Volunteers; D. Jezova, et al.; September 2002
