Brinkley TE, Lovato JF, Arnold AM et al.; Gingko Evaluation of Memory (GEM) study investigators.
Wake Forest University, Winston–Salem, NC, USA.
Am J Hypertens 2010;23:528–33.
Editor’s note: Extract of Ginkgo biloba is a herbal dietary supplement that is commonly used for the treatment and prevention of age-related cognitive decline and dementia. Owing to its antioxidant, antiplatelet, antithrombotic, and vasodilatory properties, G biloba is believed to have a cardioprotective role. In studies in spontaneously hypertensive rats, G biloba treatment has led to reductions in blood pressure (BP; J Pharm Pharmacol 2006;58:243–9, Biol Pharm Bull 2006;29:266–9); however, human studies have shown conflicting results (Ann Pharmacother 2003;37:345–9, J Clin Pharmacol 2000;40:647–54). The large, prospective, randomized, controlled GEM (Ginkgo Evaluation of Memory) study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of G biloba in preventing dementia in older patients. In this article, the authors report data from this study regarding the effect of G biloba on BP and incident hypertension in those enrolled.