The Dangers of Ginkgo biloba and other supplements.
March 4th 2008 06:29
Signature Tune
From The Daily Mail.
Many thousands of Britons rely on vitamins and herbal supplements for protection against the ravages of ageing.
Opinion has long been divided on whether such supplements can actually improve well-being - but now there is evidence that some could actually be damaging it.
Ginkgo biloba, the popular Chinese herbal extract thought by many to ward off dementia, could increase the risk of stroke.
The research is just one of several recent studies that have raised questions about supplements used to ward off age-related problems.
There is general concern over the risk of interaction between herbal supplements and medication. Patients are advised to seek their doctor's advice before using them.
But in some cases, there may be a direct health risk from the supplement involved.
Vitamin E for instance, which is readily available in health food shops, has recently been linked with increased risk of lung cancer.
Many people take vitamin E tablets to protect skin against ageing. But an American study published last week found that taking high-dose supplements of 400mg a day produced a higher risk of lung cancer (those who took it were 26 per cent more likely to develop the disease than others).
It's thought excessive amounts may actually damage the body's cells rather than protect them.
Government guidelines state men need only 4mg of vitamin E a day and women 3mg, which can be obtained from foods such as olive oil and cereals.
Most multi-vitamin supplements have between 100 and 300mg of vitamin E, but some individual tablets can contain 400mg or more.
This vitamin E research reflects an earlier study on beta-carotene, a popular supplement taken to ward off heart disease and bolster the immune system.
It, too, was found to raise the risk of lung cancer by about 18 per cent.
The Food Standards Agency says a healthy diet, rich in a variety of fruit and vegetables, can provide all the nutrients the body needs.
It maintains there is not enough evidence to justify anyone taking supplements in the hope that it will keep their brains, bones or joints in good condition later in life.
But there are no guidelines of how much ginkgo biloba is safe to take.
The herb has been used in China for centuries to treat respiratory disorders such as asthma.
Ginkgo biloba
Then in the 1950s, German scientists discovered the leaves of the plant contained substances called ginkgolides, which appeared to stop blood vessels constricting; they also prevented blood from becoming too "sticky" and reduced damage to cells.
Memory problems are often linked to a reduced blood supply to the brain, so gingko was seen as a useful anti-ageing weapon.
Around 40 clinical trials have since demonstrated that the herb can improve memory and concentration in some patients in the early stages of dementia or Alzheimer's disease.
But there is much less evidence on whether taking it daily will actually stop someone getting the condition in the first place.
So where does this leave people taking the herb in the hope that it will protect them?
Professor Stephen Jackson, a specialist in elderly care at King's College Hospital, London, says the apparent increase in stroke risk in the ginkgo biloba trial was probably due to chance.
In other words, it was pure coincidence that those taking the herb had a higher rate of strokes. But until larger studies on more people are completed, he says it's impossible to say for sure ginkgo biloba was not the cause.
His advice, therefore, is that anyone who has dementia, and has been using ginkgo biloba to slow its progression, should carry on taking it if it seems to be helping improve their memory.
But healthy people taking it to ward off dementia should stop, as the small risk of a stroke may outweigh any benefit they might get in terms of preventing memory loss.
Having done a previous post on the risks of stroke and this herb I would be very cautious about taking it. Supplements can kill just as assuredly as regular pharmaceuticals whose dangers people endeavour to avoid. That should not send you leaping to the nearest 'alternative supplement' you can lay your hands on.
So be WARNED and TAKE CARE.
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Comment by tlcorbin
Comment by katyzzz
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Comment by katyzzz
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a lot of research leaves a lot to be desired, unfortunately.