Eligible Participants
- Adults, 18 years of age or older
- Suffering with PAD, confirmed by Doppler ankle brachial index (ABI).
- Presenting with claudication symptoms of PAD
Study Design
Sixty-two adults (mean age 70 ± 8 years) were randomized to take either 300 mg per of Ginkgo biloba or a placebo for 4 months. Study tablets of the Ginkgo product contained 60 mg of EGb 761 standardized to 24% Ginkgo flavone glycosides and 6% terpene lactones. All subjects were instructed to avoid all non-study sources of ginkgo biloba and to consume 5 study tablets daily: 3 with breakfast and 2 with dinner. Participants completed a clinic visit at the beginning and end of the study to undergo a treadmill test to assess pain, discomfort, fatigue, cramping or tightness in legs associated with walking. They also completed an ultrasound to evaluate changes in flow-mediated vasodilation (FMVD) of the brachial artery.
Conclusions
Participants taking a Ginkgo biloba extract experienced a modest but insignificant increase in maximal treadmill walking time and flow-mediated vasodilation after 4 months of treatment. The increase in pain-free walking time as negligible. These findings do not support the use of Ginkgo biloba as an effective therapy for PAD, although a longer duration of use should be considered in any future trials.