There is one extensive study that was carried out on 47 adults with slow spreading Vitiligo were assigned to be given 120 mg per day of a standardized extract of Ginkgo Biloba containing 9.6 mg of ginkgo flavon glycosides per day or a similar looking placebo for six months. Photographs of the affected areas of skin of the patients were taken every six weeks to monitor the changes in size and the ratio of pigmentation changes.
Disease progression was arrested in 80% of all people taking Ginkgo Biloba extracts, compared with only 36% of those taking a placebo. Individuals with Vitiligo restricted to the face who took Ginkgo all experienced a halt in the progression of their Vitiligo, whereas no person with this form of Vitiligo in the placebo group had any signs of the disease arresting. In the ginkgo group, marked or complete re pigmentation occurred in 40% of the participants, but less than 10% of the placebo group had similar results.
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Worth a try, lol. If not, at least I'll have a healthy mind!
Replies
Hi there...I tried the Gingko and had HORRIBLE side effects. The gastrointestional trauma I had was just not worth it. Did anyone here try it and ride out the side-effects? I stopped and started PABA, Copper, B-12, Vitamin D supplements and so far none of these are causing side effects (I am taking high doses!!).
Thanks!
I haven't noticed any side effects from the use. Sorry that you experienced it.
My husband came across this and another study. So I'm giving it a shot. I've been taking 120-180mg a day for the last month. I'm also getting xcimer treatments and using Protopic. Hard to say if it is working since I am doing 3 different things at one. :-) We'll see.....
Background
Vitiligo is a common hypopigmentation disorder with significant psychological impact if occurring before adulthood. A pilot clinical trial to determine the feasibility of an RCT was conducted and is reported here.
Methods
12 participants 12 to 35 years old were recruited to a prospective open-label pilot trial and treated with 60 mg of standardized G. biloba two times per day for 12 weeks. The criteria for feasibility included successful recruitment, 75% or greater retention, effectiveness and lack of serious adverse reactions. Effectiveness was assessed using the Vitiligo Area Scoring Index (VASI) and the Vitiligo European Task Force (VETF), which are validated outcome measures evaluating the area and intensity of depigmentation of vitiligo lesions. Other outcomes included photographs and adverse reactions. Safety was assessed by serum coagulation factors (platelets, PTT, INR) at baseline and week 12.
Results
After 2 months of recruitment, the eligible upper age limit was raised from 18 to 35 years of age in order to facilitate recruitment of the required sample size. Eleven participants completed the trial with 85% or greater adherence to the protocol. The total VASI score improved by 0.5 (P = 0.021) from 5.0 to 4.5, range of scale 0 (no depigmentation) to 100 (completely depigmented). The progression of vitiligo stopped in all participants; the total VASI indicated an average repigmentation of vitiligo lesions of 15%. VETF total vitiligo lesion area decreased 0.4% (P = 0.102) from 5.9 to 5.6 from baseline to week 12. VETF staging score improved by 0.7 (P = 0.101) from 6.6 to 5.8, and the VETF spreading score improved by 3.9 (P < 0.001)) from 2.7 to -1.2. There were no statistically significant changes in platelet count, PTT, or INR.
Conclusions
The criteria for feasibility were met after increasing the maximum age limit of the successful recruitment criterion; participant retention, safety and effectiveness criteria were also met. Ingestion of 60 mg of Ginkgo biloba BID was associated with a significant improvement in total VASI vitiligo measures and VETF spread, and a trend towards improvement on VETF measures of vitiligo lesion area and staging. Larger, randomized double-blind clinical studies are warranted and appear feasible.
Trial Registration
Clinical trials.gov registration number NCT00907062
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6882/11/21
Thank you @Gary for the information , really helpful and keep the hopes on.Do you have any idea about the vit started with finger tips , lips and feet area small but its grow very slowly...
i am on ginko.. i would increase my dose little bit to see if any changes.. i see after that..
thanks once again
im not sure how it starts honestly..Was suspect of previous injuries, was pretty rough on myself as a kid, and my shins and elbows were always scabbed up, always. Eventually it all turned white where I was scabbed up when I was young. I scraped literally all the skin of a 1x2 area on my back, which also turned white. Doesn't explain my abdoment and butt cheeks though lol. At a loss there. Im just researching all I can until I can maybe one day find a cure or treatment? I guess that is my goal in life :)
I was also thinking about uping my dosage, Ill be the guinea pig for everyone. Will let ya know again in about a month how its going.