Ginkgo biloba in dyslexia: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to collect preliminary information on the possible efficacy and tolerability of EGb 761 standardized plant extract of Ginkgo biloba as a treatment of dyslexia in school-aged children.

METHODS

Fifteen children (5-16 year old) with dyslexia participated in an open-label trial of EGb 761 given as a single morning dose of 80 mg. Standardized tests for dyslexia were administered at baseline and at the end of the study.

RESULTS

All 15 children completed the trial. The score of the standardized tests for dyslexia decreased. On the list of words the score decreased from mean 4.33 (SD=2.37) at baseline to 2.66 (SD=1.58) at the end of the study (p<0.01), on the list of non-words from mean 3.39 (SD=1.5) at baseline to 2.26 (SD=0.92) at the end of the study (p<0.02) and on the reading piece from mean 3.52 (SD=2.11) to 2.13 (SD=1.25); at the end of the study (p<0.05). At the end of the study 9 children did not perform below the -2 SD on the list of words and 7 on reading text and so they no longer fulfilled the DSM-IV-TR criteria for dyslexia. A brief period of headache was reported by the parents of two children.

CONCLUSIONS

These data suggest that EGb 761 standardized plant extract of Ginkgo biloba has acceptable acute tolerability at single doses up to 80 mg/day and is possibly efficacious in decreasing dyslexia difficulties. The need for a double-blind trial is discussed by the authors.