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Ginkgo biloba extract for dizziness-related symptoms in central neurological disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

  • 2026-06-18
  • Frontiers in neurology 17
    • Young-Hyo Jeon
    • Jeong Ah Kim
    • Dong Yoon Kang
    • Seunghyun Lee
    • Nam-Kyong Choi
    • Ji-Yun Park

Study Design

Type
Systematic Review
Population
2,394 adults aged 18 years or older with cerebrovascular disease, neurodegenerative disease, or central vestibular dysfunction who had dizziness, vertigo, or balance-related symptoms
Methods
Systematic review and meta-analysis of 9 RCTs; databases searched from January 1974 to November 2025; risk of bias assessed with RoB 2.0; GRADE certainty of evidence; subgroup and sensitivity analyses

Background and purpose

Dizziness associated with central neurological disorders-broadly defined as dizziness or vertigo attributable to central nervous system pathology affecting central vestibular processing-is a clinically challenging and heterogeneous condition with limited treatment options. Ginkgo biloba extract-through its microcirculatory, neuroprotective, and anti-inflammatory mechanisms-represents a biologically plausible intervention. However, its efficacy in this setting has not been comprehensively established. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of Ginkgo biloba extract through a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Methods

Nine international and Korean databases were searched from January 1974 through November 2025. Studies were eligible if they were RCTs enrolling adults aged 18 years or older with cerebrovascular disease, neurodegenerative disease, or central vestibular dysfunction who had dizziness, vertigo, or balance-related symptoms or relevant outcome assessments. Cochrane RoB 2.0 tool and certainty of evidence was rated using the Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) approach. Prespecified subgroup analyses by underlying etiology and intervention type, together with leave-one-out sensitivity analyses, were performed to explore heterogeneity.

Results

Nine RCTs (N = 2,394) were included; participants were predominantly drawn from dementia populations (71.6%), with smaller contributions from cerebral arteriosclerosis (23.0%) and vertebrobasilar or posterior circulation disorders (5.4%). Ginkgo biloba significantly reduced dizziness/vertigo severity on the 11-point box scale (MD - 0.76, 95% CI - 1.35 to -0.18; p = 0.01) and VAS (SMD - 0.38, 95% CI - 0.58 to -0.19; p = 0.0001). Moderate-certainty evidence suggested improvements in functional outcomes and quality of life, including the Alzheimer's Disease Activities of Daily Living International Scale (MD = -0.17, 95% CI: -0.22 to -0.13) and the Dementia Quality of Life - Proxy (MD = 2.00, 95% CI: 0.85 to 3.15). The intervention was generally well tolerated, with significantly lower risks of angina pectoris (OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.31 to 0.85) and tinnitus (OR 0.37, 95% CI 0.22 to 0.63) and no significant increase in other adverse events.

Conclusion

Ginkgo biloba extract may reduce dizziness severity and improve daily functioning in patients with central neurological disorders accompanied by dizziness or vertigo, with a favorable safety profile. However, given the small number of eligible trials, substantial clinical and statistical heterogeneity, and the predominance of dementia-derived data, these findings should be interpreted with caution. Well-designed RCTs in clearly defined central vestibular populations, ideally confirmed by neuroimaging or vestibular testing, are needed to confirm these results.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD420251229692, PROSPERO: CRD420251229692.

Research Insights

  • Ginkgo→Improved Activities of Daily Living

    Moderate-certainty evidence suggested improvements in functional outcomes and quality of life, including the Alzheimer's Disease Activities of Daily Living International Scale (MD = -0.17, 95% CI: -0.22 to -0.13) and the Dementia Quality of Life - Proxy (MD = 2.00, 95% CI: 0.85 to 3.15).

    Effect
    Beneficial
    Effect size
    Small
  • Ginkgo→Improved Quality of Life

    Moderate-certainty evidence suggested improvements in functional outcomes and quality of life, including the Alzheimer's Disease Activities of Daily Living International Scale (MD = -0.17, 95% CI: -0.22 to -0.13) and the Dementia Quality of Life - Proxy (MD = 2.00, 95% CI: 0.85 to 3.15).

    Effect
    Beneficial
    Effect size
    Small
  • Ginkgo→Reduced Dizziness Severity

    Ginkgo biloba significantly reduced dizziness/vertigo severity on the 11-point box scale (MD -0.76, 95% CI -1.35 to -0.18; p=0.01) and VAS (SMD -0.38, 95% CI -0.58 to -0.19; p=0.0001).

    Effect
    Beneficial
    Effect size
    Moderate

Adverse Events Reported

  • Ginkgo→Overall tolerability

    The intervention was generally well tolerated, with significantly lower risks of angina pectoris (OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.31 to 0.85) and tinnitus (OR 0.37, 95% CI 0.22 to 0.63) and no significant increase in other adverse events.

    Finding
    Reported
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