Definition: "An ergogenic aid is any substance or phenomenon that enhances performance "
|
|
||||||||
07.10.2009 |
|
Animal study: ginkgo strengthens bones
Ginkgo biloba extracts do more than just improve your cardiovascular system and delay ageing processes. According to an animal study done at the Brazilian Federal University of Juiz de Fora, published in Phytotherapy Research, gingko also makes bones stronger. A dose of ginkgo had a better effect than regular osteoporosis medicine in the Brazilian study.
Study
The researchers wanted to know whether ginkgo had the same effects on a complete organism, so they gave extracts to female mice. Older women are more susceptible to osteoporosis as their production of estradiol declines.
To stimulate osteoporosis the researchers gave some of the lab animals injections of the synthetic corticosteroid hormone dexamethasone for a month. This was the osteoporosis group. A control group was given biphosphonate fosamax in addition [the positive control group]. After thirty days the Brazilians measured the strength of the bones in the rats' lower jaws.
The researchers looked at how firmly the rats' teeth were still embedded in the lower jaw. They took measurements in the front of the jaw - the mesial periodontal bone support [MPBS] - and at the back of the jaw - the distal periodontal bone support [DPBS].
Results
The Brazilians gave other groups of rats ginkgo in addition to the osteoporosis inducing dexamethasone. The higher the dose of ginkgo, the more firmly their teeth were still planted in their jaw, front and back. See below. The effect was statistically significant at doses of 28 and 56 mg extract/kg/day. Human equivalent of the testes dose: appr. 350-700 mg/day.
The researchers suspect that substances in ginkgo attach themselves to the beta receptor for estradiol in bone cells. Compounds that attach to the receptor have only positive effects. They make bones stronger, stimulate brain cells and inhibit the effects of estradiol that are related to the alpha receptor.
Conclusion
Source:
More: Archives:
|
|