Health functional food ingredient

Ginkgo biloba extract review — memory claims and large clinical trials

Also known as: ginkgo, ginkgo leaf extract, Ginkgo biloba

At a glanceKorea's MFDS says ginkgo extract may help memory, yet a trial of 3,069 adults aged 75+ found it did not reduce dementia.

What it is

Ginkgo extract is made from the leaves of the ginkgo tree. Research has mostly used standardized extracts with set amounts of compounds such as flavonol glycosides and terpene lactones. In Korea it is listed as a health functional food ingredient.

What the MFDS recognizes

Korea’s official notice describes ginkgo leaf extract as an ingredient that “may help improve memory and blood circulation” at 28–36 mg of flavonol glycosides a day. “May help” describes what can be expected at that intake; it does not mean the extract prevents or cures disease.

What large trials showed

The strongest evidence comes from the Ginkgo Evaluation of Memory (GEM) study in the United States. It gave 3,069 people aged 75 and over either ginkgo extract (120 mg twice a day) or placebo and followed them for a median of 6.1 years. The share who developed dementia did not differ between the groups (DeKosky et al., 2008). A follow-up analysis of the same participants found no slowing of cognitive decline either (Snitz et al., 2009).

Bottom line

Ginkgo extract is a recognized functional ingredient, but large trials have not shown that it prevents age-related decline in memory or dementia. Because it may raise bleeding risk with blood-thinning drugs, anyone taking medication should check with a professional first.

This review does not recommend any product. If you take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a health condition, talk to a doctor or pharmacist first.