Effects and safety of Ginkgo biloba on blood metabolism in type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis

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#humans #ginkgo-biloba #diabetes-mellitus-type-2 #plant-extracts #ankle-brachial-index

Effects and safety of Ginkgo biloba on blood metabolism in type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Zou et al., 2023 | Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) | Meta Analysis

Citation

Zou Huimin, Fang Jingxian, ... Wang Suijun. Effects and safety of Ginkgo biloba on blood metabolism in type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2023;14:1231053. doi:10.3389/fendo.2023.1231053

Abstract

BACKGROUND: There has existed controversy regarding the use of Ginkgo biloba (GKB) for blood metabolism among type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM) patients, and we tried to analyze the effects and safety of GKB on T2DM patients. METHODS: We conducted a literature search between January 2003 and December 2022 of seven online databases (PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Google Scholar, Web of Sciences, Cochrane Library, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure). A systematic literature review and meta-analysis were performed to compare the effects and safety of GKB among T2DM patients. Four groups of parameters were extracted and analyzed: hemorheology parameters, lipid profile, glycemic control markers, and adverse events. RESULTS: In the end, 13 eligible articles with 11 indicators among 1573 patients were included. In the hemorheology parameters section, GKB showed significantly lower plasma viscosity (PV) (SMD=-0.91, 95%CI [-1.45, -0.36], P<0.01) and hematocrit (Hct) (SMD=-0.60, 95%CI [-0.97, -0.24], P<0.01) than the control group. GKB shoed higher velocity of the dorsalis pedis artery (VDPA) (SMD=0.51, 95%CI [0.26, 0.76], P<0.01) and ankle brachial index (ABI) (SMD=0.71, 95%CI [0.32, 1.10], P<0.01) than the control. In both the lipid profile and glycemic control markers sections, we did not find any difference between GKB and control groups, including total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and fasting serum glucose (FSG). In addition, we saw no difference in adverse events (AE). The sensitivity analysis and funnel plot showed that the results in this research were robust and had no publication bias. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, GKB might safely reduce the risk of peripheral arterial or even systemic cardiovascular disease. However, GKB did not directly improve lipid and blood glucose levels in T2DM patients. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: https://inplasy.com/, identifier INPLASY202350096.

Key Findings

In the end, 13 eligible articles with 11 indicators among 1573 patients were included. In the hemorheology parameters section, GKB showed significantly lower plasma viscosity (PV) (SMD=-0.91, 95%CI [-1.45, -0.36], P<0.01) and hematocrit (Hct) (SMD=-0.60, 95%CI [-0.97, -0.24], P<0.01) than the control group. GKB shoed higher velocity of the dorsalis pedis artery (VDPA) (SMD=0.51, 95%CI [0.26, 0.76], P<0.01) and ankle brachial index (ABI) (SMD=0.71, 95%CI [0.32, 1.10], P<0.01) than the control. In

Outcomes Measured

  • Requires manual extraction

Population

Field Value
Population See abstract
Sample Size 1573
Age Range See abstract
Condition diabetes

MeSH Terms

  • Humans
  • Ginkgo biloba
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2
  • Plant Extracts
  • Ankle Brachial Index
  • Lipids

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Meta Analysis
  • Publication Types: Meta-Analysis, Systematic Review, Journal Article
  • Vertical: ginkgo

Provenance

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09