Ginkgo vs Melatonin for inflammation: which has better evidence?
A tie on evidence grade for inflammation (Ginkgo Grade B vs Melatonin Grade B). For inflammation, the two are evidence-matched; the difference is in effect and safety.
Platform evidence comparison
These existing platform assessments are separate from the source-reported findings below. They do not represent a direct trial comparing these treatments.
| Ginkgo | Melatonin | |
|---|---|---|
| Grade | grade B | grade B |
| Certainty | moderate | moderate |
| Effect | Systematic review and meta-analysis of 17 RCTs (1104 participants): Ginkgo biloba leaf extract significantly reduced serum CRP, IL-6, and TNF-alpha versus placebo. Effect on CRP was strongest at higher baseline inflammation (CRP ≥3 mg/L) and lower doses (<500 mg/day). One of the more consistent anti-inflammatory signals in this dataset. | Meta-analysis of 31 clinical trials (1517 participants): melatonin significantly reduced inflammatory markers IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF versus placebo, but had no significant effect on C-reactive protein (CRP). After correcting for publication bias, effects on IL-1, IL-6, and IL-8 remained significant — a real anti-inflammatory signal on cytokines specifically, not on CRP. |
| Studied dose | best evidence at doses under 500 mg/day | varies across trials |
| Population | adults, especially with elevated baseline inflammation | adults |
| Safety | 2 modeled interaction(s) | 1 modeled interaction(s) |
Grade B / moderate: probably helps, and new studies are unlikely to reverse this — but could shrink the effect size.
Direct comparison evidence
There are no direct RCTs in our corpus comparing Ginkgo and Melatonin head-to-head for inflammation. What we present above is an indirect comparison: each side's own trials, contrasted. This is standard practice for supplement comparisons — dose, population, and outcome-instrument differences between the two evidence bases add uncertainty on top of each side's own grade.
Can you take both?
No modeled interaction between Ginkgo and Melatonin in our corpus. Absence of a recorded interaction is not proof of additive benefit — combined-effect trials are usually absent for supplement pairs, so treat "stack" claims skeptically.
Decision guidance
- If certainty matters most — choose whichever side carries the higher certainty rating at a similar grade.
- If you're on medications — check each side's interaction pages before deciding; safety differences dominate small evidence-grade gaps.
- If your population is under-studied — the smaller-effect side with better population evidence often wins over the higher-grade side studied in a different demographic.
- If cost matters — form and dose page differences (Ginkgo vs Melatonin) can invert the practical winner.
Grade history
No grade changes yet. Initial grade assigned; re-reviewed on every 12 months (Grade A/B) — next review by . Methodology v1.
Re-review cadence: every 12 months (Grade A/B) · next scheduled by · methodology v1.
Frequently asked
Which has stronger evidence: Ginkgo or Melatonin for inflammation?
Ginkgo carries Grade B at moderate certainty; Melatonin carries Grade B at moderate. The stronger evidence points to a tie, subject to the caveat that direct head-to-head trials are usually absent for supplement pairings.
Can I take Ginkgo and Melatonin together?
No modeled interaction between Ginkgo and Melatonin; combining is not documented to be problematic, but combined-effect trials are also absent, so treat additive benefit claims skeptically.
Have Ginkgo and Melatonin been compared head-to-head?
Direct RCTs comparing the two for inflammation are uncommon. This page contrasts each side's own trial evidence — that is an indirect comparison, which introduces confounds from population and dose differences. See the direct-comparison block above.
What decides between Ginkgo and Melatonin for me?
Read the decision guidance below — the split usually comes down to population fit, interaction risk with your other medications, and how much certainty you want behind the recommendation.
Related
Cite this page
Citation is encouraged. The proposed reuse license is CC-BY-4.0; status: pending-governance-ratification.
Plain-text citation
Substrate. Ginkgo vs Melatonin for inflammation. https://evidencebased.info/compare/ginkgo-vs-melatonin-for-inflammation. Updated 2026-07-14.
BibTeX
@misc{substrate_toninforinflammation,
author = {Substrate editorial},
title = {Ginkgo vs Melatonin for inflammation},
year = {2026},
url = {https://evidencebased.info/compare/ginkgo-vs-melatonin-for-inflammation},
note = {evidencebased.info}
}