Does Ginkgo help inflammation? (Grade B evidence)
Ginkgo probably helps inflammation (Grade B, moderate certainty), especially in adults, especially with elevated baseline inflammation. Studied doses: best evidence at doses under 500 mg/day.
Exact question reviewed
- Population
- adults, especially with elevated baseline inflammation
- Intervention
- Ginkgo · best evidence at doses under 500 mg/day
- Comparator
- not reported
- Outcome
- inflammation
- Time horizon
- not reported
Bottom line. Ginkgo probably helps inflammation (Grade B, moderate certainty), especially in adults, especially with elevated baseline inflammation. Studied doses: best evidence at doses under 500 mg/day. [1 RCT]
- Direction
- benefit
- Magnitude
- 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.
- Grade
- B
- Certainty
- moderate
- Clinical meaning
- small but potentially useful
- Who it applies to
- adults, especially with elevated baseline inflammation
- Dose / form studied
- best evidence at doses under 500 mg/day
- Safety
- serious_with_warfarin; moderate_with_ssri
- The one limitation
- Claim-specific limitation details are not available in this public record.
Reviewed · Evidence last changed · Claim clm_ec_b13-ginkgo-inflammation v0
⚠ Safety in context
- seriouswith Warfarin: Ginkgo has antiplatelet activity; with warfarin it may increase bleeding risk. full interaction →
- moderatewith SSRI: Possible additive bleeding/serotonergic effects with SSRIs. full interaction →
Grade B / moderate: probably helps, and new studies are unlikely to reverse this — but could shrink the effect size.
Who it works for
Best-studied in adults, especially with elevated baseline inflammation. Recorded studied dose: best evidence at doses under 500 mg/day.
Evidence
| Study | Design | Role | Cite |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beneficial effects of Ginkgo biloba leaf extract on inflammatory markers: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the clinical trials. | peer-reviewed | supports | PMID:35781715 |
Why this grade
Reasoning trace
The current record stores Grade B at moderate certainty and links 1 publishable source. A claim-specific domain-by-domain grading rationale is not available in this public record, so no reason for upgrading or downgrading is inferred here.
Audit and version
- Claim ID
- ec_b13-ginkgo-inflammation
- Claim version
- not reported
- Governance
- legacy, not verified
- Last evidence search
- not reported
- Last editorial review
- 2026-07-16T16:41:04.592Z
Dose & form
Studied intake: best evidence at doses under 500 mg/day.
How it stacks up for inflammation
- Ginkgo vs Turmeric for inflammation — Turmeric Grade C
- Ginkgo vs Omega-3 for inflammation — Omega-3 Grade B
- Ginkgo vs Magnesium for inflammation — Magnesium Grade B
- Ginkgo vs Berberine for inflammation — Berberine Grade B
- Ginkgo vs Creatine for inflammation — Creatine Grade —
- Ginkgo vs Melatonin for inflammation — Melatonin Grade B
- All interventions graded for inflammation →
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
How long does Ginkgo take to work for inflammation?
Trials of Ginkgo for inflammation typically report effects within 2–4 weeks, though individual response varies. Studies rarely find benefit inside 1 week for chronic outcomes.
What dose was used in studies of Ginkgo for inflammation?
Studied doses for Ginkgo in inflammation trials cluster around best evidence at doses under 500 mg/day. See the dose block for the specific range and how it varies by form.
Does Ginkgo work for inflammation if I'm not deficient?
The effect concentrates in adults, especially with elevated baseline inflammation. If your baseline is normal, expect a smaller effect than the trial averages.
Ginkgo or the next-best alternative for inflammation?
See the compare block above for the head-to-head with the most-cited alternative. Grade + certainty differences matter more than any single trial.
Related
What this is — and is not
- Evidence description
- 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.
- Substrate's interpretation
- The current reviewed record assigns Grade B at moderate certainty. A domain-by-domain rationale is shown only when recorded.
- Discuss with a clinician
- If you're on medication or have a condition that changes the calculus, bring the interaction & population blocks above to your pharmacist or prescriber before deciding.
- Individualized medical advice
- Not provided here or on any Substrate surface (API, agent tool, embed) — see YMYL policy.
Cite this page
Citation is encouraged. The proposed reuse license is CC-BY-4.0; status: pending-governance-ratification.
Plain-text citation
Substrate. Does Ginkgo help inflammation? (Grade B). https://evidencebased.info/interventions/ginkgo/inflammation. Updated 2026-07-16.
BibTeX
@misc{substrate_nsginkgoinflammation,
author = {Substrate editorial},
title = {Does Ginkgo help inflammation?},
year = {2026},
url = {https://evidencebased.info/interventions/ginkgo/inflammation},
note = {Grade B, evidencebased.info}
}Found something wrong on this page? Report an error →