CLINICAL RESEARCH POSTER PRESENTATION ABSTRACTS
Please note: All posters will be displayed in
Salons 10-12.
THURSDAY, 10:15-11:00 AM
Rausch SM, Johnson SK, Diamond BJ, Kaufman M, Shiflett
SC, Graves L.
The effect of gingko biloba on functional measures in
multiple sclerosis: a pilot study.
Virginia Commonwealth University rauschsm@vcu.edu
This study used a double-blind, placebo-controlled
design in order to determine whether ginkgo extract (EGb 761) improved
functional performance in individuals with MS. Twenty-two MS subjects
matched on age, IQ, and education participated. Half the subjects were
randomized to 240 mg per day EGb 761 while the other half received placebo.
The end point was change between baseline (i.e., pre-intervention) and
follow-up evaluation following a regimen of four tablets per day @ 60
mg per/tablet for four weeks. All subjects were administered measures
of Quality of Life, fatigue, depression, and symptom severity. Among
individuals who showed improvement on the fatigue, symptom severity
and functional measures, the ginkgo group showed a significantly larger
effect size than the placebo group and had significantly more individuals
showing improvement on 4 or more measures. However, when change scores
were averaged across groups, there were no significant effects on any
of the measures from pre to post testing in the gingko group.
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